Heather Lavelle: Frequently Asked Questions
Short, sourced answers to common questions about Heather Lavelle and the Christian Rojas case. Each answer links to the page or source behind it.
Who is Heather Lavelle?
Heather Lavelle is the former girlfriend of Christian Rojas. She pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in June 2006 for his killing in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. News coverage at the time described her as a former insurance industry professional with an engineering degree. See Heather Lavelle and the case.
What did Heather Lavelle do?
She pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the August 2005 killing of Christian Rojas, and admitted in court that she killed him. James Savage, her boyfriend at the time, pleaded guilty as well. Both took Christian's car and belongings and fled to North Carolina, where they were arrested after a police chase. We leave out the details of the crime. See the case timeline.
What was Heather Lavelle sentenced to?
Life in prison without parole, in June 2006. James Savage was sentenced to life imprisonment on June 19, 2006.
Is Heather Lavelle eligible for parole?
No. A sentence of life without parole means the Pennsylvania Parole Board cannot parole her; the Parole Board says it does not have the authority to parole from sentences of life imprisonment. The only route to release is commutation: the Board of Pardons must recommend it by a unanimous vote at a public hearing, and then the Governor decides. We have not found public information on whether she has applied. Sources: Pennsylvania Parole Board, Board of Pardons, 37 Pa. Code 81.301.
Where is Heather Lavelle now?
She was held at SCI Muncy, Pennsylvania's maximum-security prison for women, according to the 2014 Supreme Court docket and her own September 2021 essay. We cannot confirm her current location. The official source is the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections inmate locator.
Did Heather Lavelle appeal her conviction?
Yes. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied her appeal on May 1, 2012. The Third Circuit issued its decision in Lavelle v. Giroux on May 5, 2014, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied review on October 6, 2014.
Did Heather Lavelle give a TEDx talk?
Yes. A talk titled "Working Toward Redemption" was published from the TEDxMuncyStatePrison 2014 event on December 19, 2014. See what her talk and essays say.
Does Heather Lavelle mention Christian Rojas in her writing?
In the materials we reviewed, she does not name him. Her September 2021 Friends Journal essay refers to "my good friend's murder" but never says Christian's name, and the TEDx event description does not name him either. An editor noted that she has submitted a letter to the family through the Inmate Apology Bank.
Who was James Savage?
James Savage, of Bristol Township, was Lavelle's boyfriend at the time. He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment on June 19, 2006. In 2020 the Pennsylvania Superior Court affirmed the denial of his later petition as untimely.
Who was Christian Rojas?
Christian Rojas was a 28-year-old computer programmer from Quesada, Costa Rica who lived in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Friends remember him as sweet and generous and deeply devoted to his family, to whom he sent much of what he earned. Read the memorial.
Has this case been shown on television?
Yes. The case has been retold in television programs. We do not name them here, and we do not link to them. Our view is that turning Christian's death into entertainment is tasteless and re-victimizes his family and loved ones.