Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania prosecutor says he'll seek the death penalty against a man accused of sexually assaulting and killing a sixth-grade math teacher during a burglary at her home.
Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said Friday that 25-year-old Thomas Moore tortured Nicole Mathewson and killed her after committing multiple felonies.
He says that warrants capital punishment.
Moore's 16-year-old co-defendant won't face the death penalty.
Moore and the teen are charged with homicide, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and other offenses in the December killing in Lancaster.
Moore's lawyer has said his client isn't responsible for Mathewson's death and on Friday said he's disappointed that the prosecutor is seeking the death penalty.
Mathewson taught at Brownstown Elementary school. Police say she'd been home alone, and Moore and the teen didn't know her.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
