Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2504 (2026)
Involuntary manslaughter.
✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 2504. Involuntary manslaughter.
(a) General rule.--A person is guilty of involuntary manslaughter when as a direct result of the doing of an unlawful act in a reckless or grossly negligent manner, or the doing of a lawful act in a reckless or grossly negligent manner, he causes the death of another person.
(b) Grading.--Involuntary manslaughter is a misdemeanor of the first degree. Where the victim is under 12 years of age and is in the care, custody or control of the person who caused the death, involuntary manslaughter is a felony of the second degree.
(July 6, 1995, P.L.251, No.31, eff. 60 days)
Cross References. Section 2504 is referred to in sections 2711, 6105 of this title; section 1611 of Title 75 (Vehicles).
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 223
cases (40 in the last 5 years), 1975–2025 · leading case: Minnesota Fire & Cas. Co. v. Greenfield, 855 A.2d 854 (Pa. 2004).
Minnesota Fire & Cas. Co. v. Greenfield, 855 A.2d 854 (Pa. 2004). “[3] 18 Pa.C.S. § 2504. Involuntary manslaughter (a) General rule.”
Commonwealth v. Comer, 716 A.2d 593 (Pa. 1998). “18 Pa.C.S. § 2504. We have held that there is a distinction between the term "negligently" as set forth in 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Samuels, 778 A.2d 638 (Pa. 2001). “2d at 477 -78 (citing 18 Pa.C.S. § 2504). In this regard, he indicated: a consideration of the crime of involuntary manslaughter provides what seems to me a probably correct explanation of why the legislature intended to create strict criminal liability under section 3732.”
Commonwealth v. Huggins, 836 A.2d 862 (Pa. 2003). “§ 2702(a)(1), two counts of involuntary manslaughter, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2504(a), two counts of homicide by vehicle, 75 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Boczkowski, 846 A.2d 75 (Pa. 2004). “" 18 Pa.C.S. § 2504(a). Appellant argues that the jury could have found that he acted recklessly or grossly negligently when he left his intoxicated wife in the hot tub alone, where she drowned.”
Commonwealth v. Polimeni, 378 A.2d 1189 (Pa. 1977). “Involuntary manslaughter, with which we are here concerned, is committed when the death of a person is caused as a direct result either of a lawful act or of an unlawful act done in a "reckless or grossly negligent manner," 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Barone, 419 A.2d 457 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1980). “” Crimes Code, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2504 (1973). 25 We suggest that the legislature intended to fill this void not by punishing every death causing violation, but rather only intended to reach those violations in which there has been a “gross deviation” from the required standard of…”
Shoul v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 173 A.3d 669 (Pa. 2017). “where the person was a commercial driver at the time the violation occurred; * * * (7) any offense wherein the person caused the death of a person as a result of a motor vehicle accident through the negligent operation of a commercial motor vehicle, including, but not limited…”
Commonwealth v. Heck, 535 A.2d 575 (Pa. 1987). “Consecutive sentences of imprisonment had been imposed on the Appellant following jury verdicts finding him guilty of involuntary manslaughter, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2504, and homicide by vehicle.”
Commonwealth v. Kimball, 724 A.2d 326 (Pa. 1999). “18 Pa.C.S. § 2504. [1] By the time the appeal had advanced to the United States Supreme Court, the Eighth Circuit had reversed itself and held that "double-counting" an aggravating circumstance at the penalty phase was constitutionally permissible.”
Commonwealth v. Kearns, 896 A.2d 640 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2006). “18 Pa.C.S. § 2504. Endangering the welfare of a child requires a finding that the child was under age 18 whereas the escalation provision of involuntary manslaughter requires a finding that the child was age 12 or under.”
Bryan Range v. Attorney Gen. United States, 69 F.4th 96 (3rd Cir. 2023). “, 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 2504 (involuntary manslaughter); id.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2504(a) — 101 cases
Commonwealth v. Boczkowski, 846 A.2d 75 (Pa. 2004). “" 18 Pa.C.S. § 2504(a). Appellant argues that the jury could have found that he acted recklessly or grossly negligently when he left his intoxicated wife in the hot tub alone, where she drowned.”
Commonwealth v. Huggins, 836 A.2d 862 (Pa. 2003). “§ 2702(a)(1), two counts of involuntary manslaughter, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2504(a), two counts of homicide by vehicle, 75 Pa.”
Minnesota Fire & Cas. Co. v. Greenfield, 855 A.2d 854 (Pa. 2004). “[3] 18 Pa.C.S. § 2504. Involuntary manslaughter (a) General rule.”
Commonwealth v. Packer, 168 A.3d 161 (Pa. 2017).
Commonwealth v. Scher, 803 A.2d 1204 (Pa. 2002).
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2504(a)(1972) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Danner, 45 Pa. D. & C.3d 206 (1987).
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2504(b) — 11 cases
Commonwealth v. Kearns, 896 A.2d 640 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2006). “18 Pa.C.S. § 2504. Endangering the welfare of a child requires a finding that the child was under age 18 whereas the escalation provision of involuntary manslaughter requires a finding that the child was age 12 or under.”
Com. v. Seladones, T., 305 A.3d 83 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2023).
Commonwealth v. Huggins, 836 A.2d 862 (Pa. 2003). “§ 2702(a)(1), two counts of involuntary manslaughter, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2504(a), two counts of homicide by vehicle, 75 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Kearns, 907 A.2d 649 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2006).
Com. v. Savage, O. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).
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