Michael Travaglia’s Background

Throughout his years at Kiski Area High School, Travaglia – described as a tall, thin youth – was an active member of the swim team, marching band and symphonic band.  “He enjoyed school and his classes, especially music,” his wife Fran said, noting that school was a break away from his home life.

“Michael doesn’t really discuss it [his childhood],” Fran Travaglia said.  “I know there was a lot of pain.  He didn’t have a good home life.”

Travaglia grew up with his mother, father, Bernard, and brother, Ken, in a home in the Washington Township area, a small town near Apollo, Pa.  His father was in the plastering business with Travaglia’s uncle.  His mother is now deceased, and although his father and brother are both alive, they are embittered and have been estranged from Travaglia since the murders. 

“His father was strict,” Travaglia’s attorney, Dante Bertani said.  “The [family] dog wouldn’t even leave the yard until the dad said [it was OK for him] to.”

During the original trial, over 50 character witnesses were willing to speak in Travaglia’s defense; they said they simply could not believe that this well-behaved young man was capable of murdering four people.  Travaglia had never been in trouble before and never overstepped his bounds. One neighbor told the jury that Michael would come over to play with his son when they were boys, but he would always top at the kitchen doorway to ask permission before entering the house

After his high school graduation, Travaglia pursued training as an airline mechanic at the Allegheny County Airport, and for the first time, he slipped out from under his father’s heavy thumb.  This new freedom, coupled with his new friends like John Lesko, who introduced him to drugs and alcohol, led Travaglia lose “his way,” Bertani believes.

His family never forgave him, the lawyer said.  Travaglia’s father, mother nor brother ever came to visit him since his imprisonment.

“His mom was cold,” Bertani said.  “She didn’t want to see him [in prison] and she just wasn’t a warm person.”

Travaglia’s relationship with his brother was always strained, Bertani claims.  Travaglia felt that his parents preferred his brother and held him up as a better person.

There is much pain in these pages. There are, to begin with, crimes that defy description. Then there is the ensuing rage, horror, grief and fierce ambivalence. But also courage and incredible human spirit. I have been changed forever by the experiences that I describe here.

 Sister Helen Prejean, Dead Man Walking

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