Convicted murderer gets life in prison for killing of Altoona man
Kline also receives additional 6- to 12-year sentence
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EBENSBURG -- The family of an Altoona man brutally killed in May 2023 told convicted killer Austin Louis Kline, 26, that he was a monster who should "rot in hell."
Kline showed no emotion during Wednesday's proceedings, in which Judge Tamara Bernstein handed down a sentence of life in prison without parole for killing 55-year-old Richard Morgan in a fit of anger.
"Your lack of accountability and remorse is disturbing and appalling," Bernstein told Kline.
Kline was ordered to serve an additional six to 12 years on related misdemeanor charges and must pay both the cost of prosecution and a $10,000 fine.
Earlier this year, a Cambria County jury found Kline guilty of criminal homicide in the death of Morgan, a contractor who Kline was hiring to do excavating work.
Before Kline's sentencing at the Cambria County Courthouse, defense attorney Timothy Burns asked for a binder of personal information compiled by Kline to be admitted as an exhibit, which Bernstein allowed. When Kline was given the opportunity to speak on his own behalf, he chose to remain silent.
Members of Morgan's family then gave victim impact statements, with Morgan's middle son Dustin Beckwith telling Kline he was "the definition of a monster."
Beckwith was joined at the microphone by his 11-year-old son, Morgan's grandson, and mentioned his younger child who will "never get to know their grandfather."
"I hope you never get to see your loved ones again," Beckwith told Kline. "I hope you rot in hell."
Beckwith asked Bernstein to "never let (Kline) see the light of day" and sentence him to "live the rest of his miserable life in prison." He asked that Kline not be given the death penalty, as that would only give him an "expiration date," and that he not be allowed to attend his family on their own deathbeds.
"I don't have the hate in my heart to hate you like I should," Beckwith said. "But I can never forgive."
Morgan's youngest son, Aric Beckwith, took several moments to collect himself before being able to address Kline. He said the job his father went to Kline's residence to complete was actually meant for him.
Kline had hired Morgan to perform some excavation work at his home, then shot Morgan four times before striking him in the head with a soil-tamping tool and removing his arms.
"You decided his life was nothing," Aric Beckwith told Kline.
While Aric Beckwith had a written statement to read from, he ultimately left the microphone before it was finished, saying Kline didn't "deserve it."
Morgan's wife Leeann Morgan was joined at the microphone by her niece Theresa Dodson, who read Leeann's statement on her behalf. She described Morgan as "the rock" in their relationship and that she had lost her sense of safety.
"When people tell me I'm strong, the truth is I am just surviving," Leeann Morgan wrote.
She then asked Bernstein to sentence Kline to life in prison.
Following the impact statements, Cambria County District Attorney Jessica Aurandt said she had "never seen a crime so worthy of life in prison without the possibility of parole," to which Bernstein said "I don't disagree."
Addressing Kline, Bernstein said that by killing Morgan, he had forfeited his freedom "forever." She told Kline she read the life plans he laid out in the binder his attorney provided, but "those plans will never happen."
Bernstein explained her reasoning for sentencing Kline to the statutory maximum and not merging his misdemeanor charges by finding Kline's crimes as the "most extreme of cases."
She then spoke directly to Morgan's family, telling them as her voice broke that "you have been strong."
"Know that surviving and living through your days is strength," Bernstein said. "And as a gift to Richard, live well."
Outside the courtroom, Aurandt said the case was the worst she had seen in her 16-year career and that what was particularly significant about the sentencing was Bernstein giving Kline an additional six to 12 year sentence.
Dustin and Aric Beckwith, along with their mother Leeann Morgan, also spoke with gathered media. Dustin said it made his family feel good that Bernstein recognized the severity of the case and went out of her way to add years to Kline's life sentence.
Holding a small white urn adorned with a red cardinal perched on a branch, Aric Beckwith addressed Kline's attitude and lack of comment during the hearing.
"He didn't show remorse, like he was just standing there with a smug look on his face," Aric Beckwith said. "We wanted to know why he had to shoot somebody four times."
In remembering their father, Dustin Beckwith described Morgan as an honest, hardworking family man. Aric Beckwith said he would always dress up as Santa for Christmas and Morgan would make sure to sit on his lap.
"There's a lot of good memories," Dustin Beckwith said.
The family also praised the state police and the Cambria County District Attorney's Office for their swift action in trying to locate Morgan and then prosecuting Kline.
"(Former District Attorney) Greg (Neugebauer) and Jess (Aurandt) have done a phenomenal job, as well as (co-cousel) Broc (Jennings)," Dustin Beckwith said. "All of the state police, I know some of them are retired, my hats off to them. We didn't have to wait. It was instantaneous."
Kline has been incarcerated at the Cambria County Prison with bail denied since his arrest on May 27, 2023.
Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.