PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Delaware man who admitted to killing three people in a bizarre car crash in South Philadelphia following the 2019 Mummers Parade will spend nearly four decades in prison.
Following two days of victim impact statements and testimony from psychologists, a Philadelphia judge sentenced Keith Campbell to 37 ½ to 76 years behind bars on Friday, after he openly pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree murder, one count of aggravated assault, and one count of DUI.
In the early hours of Jan. 2, 2019, police say Campbell lost control of his car on Packer Avenue near Seventh Street in South Philadelphia and slammed into another head-on, killing three people. He was driving about 110 miles per hour and was high on marijuana and Adderall.
Two victims, Joseph Ferry, 36, and Dennis Palandro Jr., 31, were members of the South Philadelphia String Band. Palandro's father was the captain of the string band at the time.
Ferry's fiancee, Kelly Wiseley, 35, was also killed. They got engaged about a week prior, during Christmas.
Police said Ferry was ejected from the vehicle. A fourth person in his car, Palandro's wife, Nicole, survived.
Police found Campbell with about 15 self-inflicted stab wounds to his chest and abdomen. No one else was in the car with him.
Much of Campbell's sentencing hearing centered around his mental health state. Officials said Campbell, now 32, never took responsibility for the crash but pointed to the police officers who tried to pull him over as he sped.
The defense argued Campbell is a schizophrenic who had been struggling through the mental health system, adding he should be shown mercy and help with his rehabilitation.
The judge recognized Campbell's mental health issues but called him "a danger," adding she wanted to "assure this doesn't happen again."
More than 100 victim impact letters were sent to the judge and dozens of victim impact statements. Donna Ferry, Joseph Ferry's mother, tearfully spoke about how she should have been planning an engagement party for her son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law. Instead, she planned a funeral.
"We're sad parents," she sobbed. "We're sad friends and family, but we fought. We fought hard."
Family and friends gathering after sentencing in the Mummers crash case.Kristen Johanson/KYW Newsradio
Outside the courtroom, friends and families of the victims hugged.
"Our ultimate goal was for somebody to be held responsible for," Donna Ferry added. "That's what we wanted and that's what I feel we got."
Campbell could be released from prison in his 60s. He may appeal the judge's decision.
