A Pennsylvania man who admitted to intentionally setting fire to his family’s Castle Shannon home, killing his 19-year-old daughter and severely injuring his estranged wife, has been sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison.
Brian Shelleby, 47, received the sentence Thursday after pleading guilty last month to third-degree murder and aggravated arson. He also received a concurrent five-to-10-year sentence for aggravated arson and credit for 361 days he has already spent in custody.
The case stems from a Sept. 14, 2025 fire at the family’s home on Corbett Drive in Castle Shannon, Allegheny County. Shelleby and his wife, Carly, were separated at the time and had argued about whether he could remain in the home.
According to court records, Carly told investigators that Shelleby threatened to burn the house after she told him he could not stay. He then took a five-gallon gasoline container and spread fuel through portions of the home.
The resulting fire quickly engulfed the house. Carly managed to escape but suffered severe burns. Their daughter, Lakyn Shelleby, was unable to get out.
Emergency crews found Lakyn unresponsive inside the home, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner later determined that her death was a homicide caused by thermal injuries and inhalation of combustion products.
Shelleby remained at the scene after the fire and admitted to investigators that he had started it. The case initially involved a first-degree murder charge, but that charge was ultimately resolved through the negotiated plea to third-degree murder.
At Thursday’s sentencing hearing, Carly Shelleby spoke about the loss of her daughter and the lasting impact of the fire. She described Lakyn as beautiful, intelligent and kind, and questioned how her husband could have set the house on fire while she and their daughter were inside.
“How was it so easy for him to burn us alive?” Carly asked the judge.
Shelleby did not address the court himself. His attorney, Phil DiLucente, read a statement in which Shelleby apologized to his family and expressed remorse for what happened.
“My days are filled with flashbacks and my nights with nightmares,” Shelleby said in the statement. “A part of me died along with her.”
Family members also spoke during the hearing, with some expressing support for Shelleby while Carly and her son described the difficulty of moving forward after Lakyn’s death.
Lakyn had recently begun her sophomore year at the University of Pittsburgh when she died. She was a 2024 graduate of Keystone Oaks High School, where she was involved in the marching band and National Honor Society. She was also a tenor saxophone player and had earned a first-degree black belt in Tang Soo Do.
Her obituary described her as someone who was deeply connected to her family and community. She also worked as an associate at Sheetz while attending college.
The deadly fire shocked the Castle Shannon community, where neighbors had known Lakyn for years. Residents gathered after the fire to remember her and support her mother as she recovered from her injuries.
With the sentencing, Shelleby’s criminal case has now resulted in a lengthy prison term for the fire that took his daughter’s life. His sentence gives him credit for the time he has already served since his arrest following the September 2025 blaze.
