Philadelphia, January 6, 2026
Arkel Garcia, whose 2015 murder conviction was overturned, has been arrested following a multi-state manhunt. He is now wanted for two new homicides, including the murder of 68-year-old David Weinkopff in Philadelphia. Authorities consider him armed and dangerous, connected to rising violence in both Pennsylvania and Florida. Garcia’s past conviction was vacated due to misconduct by law enforcement, but he remained imprisoned for separate charges before his recent release on parole last fall.
Philadelphia
Arkel Garcia, a man whose 2015 murder conviction was overturned in 2021, has been apprehended after a multi-state manhunt and is now wanted in connection with two new homicides. Authorities consider Garcia, 31, armed and dangerous due to a pattern of escalating violence.
Recent Homicide Investigations
Garcia is currently wanted on an active homicide warrant in Philadelphia for the killing of 68-year-old David Weinkopff. Weinkopff was found unresponsive with blunt force trauma in his Northwest Philadelphia apartment on November 12, with authorities believing the incident was a robbery. Furthermore, Garcia is a person of interest in a homicide that occurred on November 28 in Fort Pierce, Florida, where a 51-year-old victim died from blunt force trauma and smoke inhalation after their home was intentionally set on fire.
On January 4, a violent altercation in a Philadelphia home, which extended into a parking lot, resulted in one man suffering multiple gunshot and stab wounds and being transported to a hospital in critical condition. This critically injured individual was identified as Arkel Garcia, whom police say is wanted in connection with multiple homicide investigations.
Overturned 2015 Murder Conviction
Garcia was initially sentenced to life in prison in 2015 for the 2013 fatal shooting of 21-year-old Christian Massey in West Philadelphia during an attempted robbery over Beats headphones. His conviction was vacated in 2021 by a Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge following an investigation by the District Attorney’s Office’s Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU). The CIU found egregious misconduct by former Philadelphia homicide detective Philip Nordo, whose actions were deemed to have compromised the integrity of the investigation, arrest, and jury trial. The District Attorney’s office declined to retry Garcia in the Massey case.
Despite the overturned murder conviction, Garcia remained incarcerated for several years due to a separate aggravated assault conviction for fighting with a sheriff’s deputy during his initial murder sentencing. He was released on parole last fall.
The Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU)
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office’s Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU), established in 2018, investigates wrongful convictions and reviews unjust sentences. The unit’s mission is to ensure justice, rectify wrongful convictions, and prevent future injustices by crafting office-wide policies and training. The CIU reviews old cases for issues such as overlooked evidence, eyewitness misidentification, false confessions, and police or prosecutorial misconduct. It operates independently within the District Attorney’s Office. Prior to 2018, a predecessor unit, the Conviction Review Unit (CRU), had a narrower mandate.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is Arkel Garcia wanted for?
- Arkel Garcia is currently wanted on an active homicide warrant in Philadelphia for the killing of 68-year-old David Weinkopff. He is also a person of interest in a homicide that occurred on November 28 in Fort Pierce, Florida.
- Why was Arkel Garcia’s initial murder conviction overturned?
- Arkel Garcia’s 2015 murder conviction for the 2013 killing of Christian Massey was vacated in 2021 due to egregious misconduct by former Philadelphia homicide detective Philip Nordo, which compromised the original investigation and trial.
- What is the Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU)?
- The Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) is a unit within the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, established in 2018, that investigates wrongful convictions and reviews unjust sentences to ensure justice and prevent future injustices.
- When was Arkel Garcia last released from prison?
- Arkel Garcia was released on parole last fall after serving time for a separate aggravated assault conviction.
Key Information
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Key Individual | Arkel Garcia |
| Current Status | Apprehended; wanted for multiple homicides in Pennsylvania and Florida. |
| Philadelphia Homicide Warrant | Killing of 68-year-old David Weinkopff (November 12) |
| Florida Homicide Person of Interest | Homicide in Fort Pierce (November 28) |
| Overturned Conviction | 2015 murder conviction for the 2013 killing of Christian Massey |
| Reason for Overturn | Egregious misconduct by former detective Philip Nordo |
| Responsible Unit for Overturn Review | Philadelphia District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) |
| Last Release | On parole last fall, after serving time for an aggravated assault conviction |
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Author: STAFF HERE PHILADELPHIA WRITER
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