By Seamus McGraw
June 15, 2006
Lancaster County, PA (Crime Library) — David Ludwig, the 19-year-old Lancaster County man who made international headlines last year where he gunned the parents of his teenage girlfriend and fled with her across three states, will spend the rest of his life behind bars, under a plea bargain struck with prosecutors.
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| David Ludwig in Custody |
In a deal that spared him the death penalty, Ludwig pleaded guilty to two counts of first degree murder in the deaths last November of Michael and Cathryn Borden, as well as a raft of other charges, including firearms violations, reckless endangerment and statutory sexual assault of Kara Beth Borden, the 14-year-old Lititz, PA, teen who authorities say was the catalyst for Ludwig's rampage.
Kara Borden, who has since moved to another state and is living with relatives, was not present for Wednesday's court proceedings at which Ludwig was sentenced to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. She has not been charged in connection with the slayings, described by Lancaster County Judge David L. Ashworth as a "useless and selfish act" which he said, "permanently altered the lives of countless people."
In an interview with Crime Library, Lancaster County District Attorney, whose ultimate decision whether to pursue a death sentence in the case hinged largely on the victims' surviving family members, said he was agreed to the deal with Ludwig after lengthy conversations with Michael and Cathryn Borden's siblings and children.
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| District Attorney Donald Totaro |
"We spoke on a number of occasions," Totaro said. "We had two conference calls where we had everybody on at the same times and it was unanimous," Totaro said. "This was the way they wanted to proceed. They wanted the certainty of a conviction to murder in the first degree with life imprisonment. If at all possible they wanted to avoid putting the younger children through a lengthy trial, and they also were not interested in dealing with lengthy appeals."
Next Page
Kara Borden's Neighbors Yearn for Closure
Judge Orders Karas Web Sites Preserved
Documents reveal new details in Double Homicide
Kara Beth and David: Below the Surface
David Ludwig and Kara Borden - Full Coverage
Feature Story - Kara Beth Borden and David Ludwig
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