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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia judge wants to know why a murder suspect appeared in court in a T-shirt that read, "Crime Pays."
Jeremiah Jakson is charged with strangling an art school graduate staying in the same boarding house.
Prosecutors believe Jakson killed 23-year-old Laura Araujo (ah-RAW'-ho) in July in order to steal her laptop and bank card. They say he then stuffed her body in a duffel bag and torched her vehicle.
Jakson told Municipal Court Judge Teresa Carr Deni at Wednesday's preliminary hearing that he was given the shirt in jail and had nothing else to wear.
The judge has asked his lawyer to investigate.
Meanwhile, she upheld murder, arson and other charges against the 22-year-old Jakson.
Relatives say Araujo had a fashion degree and volunteered teaching English.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
