By Steve Huff
LITITZ, PA (Crime Library) — When the Amber Alert was issued for Kara Beth Borden of Lititz, Pennsylvania on November 13, 2005, the national attention to her case was immediate.
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| Kara Borden |
She was said to be in the company of 18-year-old David Ludwig, also of Lititz. Ludwig was also suspected of murdering Kara's parents, Michael and Cathryn Borden, both age 50. All Amber Alerts, named after Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old Texas girl abducted and murdered by a child predator in 1996, are taken seriously — but double-murders followed by abductions don't happen all that often, anywhere, much less deeply religious Lititz, PA, near Lancaster.
When David Ludwig led Indiana police on high-speed chase on November 14, 2005 that ended in Belleville, Indiana, resulting in his arrest and Kara Beth's being returned safely to what was left of her family in Lititz, the questions began. As the week came to a close, the details of the secret relationship between Borden and Ludwig as well as the depth of their bond became clear. Details began to come out about troubling behavior from David Ludwig in the past, as well.
First, 54 weapons were removed from the Ludwig home. There was some speculation about this because Michael and Cathryn Borden were shot to death, and authorities indicated not all the firearms found in the Ludwig home were secured.
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| Borden Family |
By the end of the week, Friday, November 18, it appeared that the passion that some speculated may have driven David Ludwig to murder the Bordens and take off with Kara had waned as David Ludwig faced trial for double-murder — reports were issued stating that video surveillance could be found to prove that Kara Beth Borden was under no coercion while on the lam with Ludwig for 30 hours.
In part, it appeared these allegations were in response to news from the Pennsylvania authorities preparing a case against Ludwig that a video file had been discovered on one of David Ludwig's laptops depicting Ludwig and a friend, 19-year-old Sam Lohr, plotting a "home invasion." They were seen selecting firearms at the Ludwig home and then traveling to the house of an unnamed family. Other rumors emerged as well, including one relating a conversation someone had with David Ludwig where he stated he could "kill someone" and "get away with it."
The webmaster and journalist for the online news magazine, www.actionreport.net, John Powers, received from an anonymous source portions of e-mails from komputerkid16@yahoo.com — David Ludwig's e-mail address, easily found in any of his online weblogs at either myspace.com or Xanga.com. These e-mails perhaps were the most revealing about Ludwig's past and possible patterns in relationships he may have pursued prior to his intense relationship with Kara Beth Borden.
David Ludwig visited Hawaii in 2004, and while there apparently began a relationship with another young woman affiliated with a church he attended while in Kailua, Hawaii. It would appear, from the content of the e-mails, that they had a brief, possibly sexual relationship.
David Ludwig, at least, seemed to use his "faith" in the same way other men use sports cars — as a "hook." It appeared to be a tool with which he manipulated the young woman in Hawaii.
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David Ludwig and Kara Borden - Full Coverage
Feature Story - Kara Beth Borden and David Ludwig
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