David G. Ludwig murders
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David George Ludwig (born April 28, 1987) is an American who received two life sentences in prison without parole for murdering Michael and Cathryn Borden in Lititz, Pennsylvania on November 13, 2005. The Bordens were the parents of his girlfriend Kara Beth Borden, who fled with him after the murders.
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[edit] Background
The Borden and Ludwig families are both from Lititz, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. While not members of the same church, the two families are stated to be devout evangelical Christians, and both families home-schooled their children. David and Kara are reported to have met in a support group for home-schooled children.[1]
[edit] Confrontation, murder, and arrest
According to the Lancaster New Era newspaper, friends of Ludwig and Kara Beth say that the two were sexually involved.[2] At the time, Ludwig was 18 years of age and Kara Beth was 14. The age of consent in Pennsylvania is 16; intercourse with a person under 16 and four or more years younger constitutes statutory rape. The parents of the teens reportedly became concerned. When Ludwig and Kara stayed out all night together, Ludwig was summoned to the Borden home for a confrontation, at which point he shot both parents. The press indicates that Kara's older sister witnessed at least one of the murders.
An Amber Alert was issued for Kara, and the story became national news. Ludwig and Kara Beth were apprehended in the central Indiana town of Belleville, (Hendricks County) on Tuesday, November 15, 2005, after he front-ended his parents' 1998 Volkswagen Jetta into a tree, subsequent to a chase by police. The latter phase of this apprehension was carried live on numerous cable television news networks. Ludwig waived extradition, and both were (separately) flown back to Pennsylvania.
[edit] Investigation
A search warrant of the home of Gregory P. and Jane Ludwig was executed on the same day as the Borden murders, and officers recovered 54 firearms and associated ammunition. The Indiana authorities recovered a .40 caliber Glock semiautomatic pistol from the Ludwig family car which is said to be the murder weapon.[3] Police also recovered a Colt 1911 pistol, a Ruger .45 ACP semiautomatic pistol, and a Ruger Mini-14 rifle. Another handgun from the Ludwig collection was reportedly found at the Borden home wrapped in a towel. Additional items reported to have been seized from the Ludwig home by police were at least two computers and a number of video tapes. Among this evidence was an 18 minute video where Ludwig and a friend are seen discussing and perhaps executing a home invasion; according to a court document, they discussed "having sex with Kara and Katelyn Borden, that the sex would constitute statutory rape and the potential to have to shoot a guy named 'Jonathan' if he found out about it."[4]
The funeral for the Bordens was held Saturday, November 19, 2005, at Lancaster Bible College. Kara attended. Press reports indicate that she sat with her siblings. The adult Bordens were buried in a dedicated Mennonite cemetery.
[edit] Prosecution and imprisonment
The case was pursued by the District Attorney's office of Lancaster County. Ludwig was charged with two counts of first degree homicide, one count each of sexual assault, reckless endangerment of a minor, as well as a firearms violation. Authorities claim that Ludwig confessed to the murders at the time of his apprehension, and again while in custody.[5] An initial charge of kidnapping was dropped after prosecutors determined that Kara Beth willingly accompanied Ludwig, and had intended to run away and get married.[5] Initially, prosecutors had announced their intent to seek the death penalty for the murder charges.[6] However, on June 14, 2006, Ludwig agreed to a plea deal and was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ Mysteries grow in murders
- ^ Secret liaisons? Friends, documents indicate teens met in girl's home, exchanged intimate photos, notes
- ^ Inside the Ludwig bunker
- ^ Film reveals Ludwig 'night patrols' - Court documents disclose plots to break into homes, kill family
- ^ a b Borden went willingly; kidnap charges dropped
- ^ DA to seek death for Ludwig
- ^ Pennsylvania Teen Pleads Guilty to Killing Girlfriend's Parents, Gets Life in Prison
[edit] External links
- David Ludwig's Xanga (Alt. Mirror)
- David Ludwig's MySpace (Mirror, blog links work)
- Early Website
- Crimelibrary.com profile of the murders