Death penalty to be sought in 1992 slaying of schoolteacher

LANCASTER (AP) — A prosecutor has announced plans to seek the death penalty against the man charged in the 1992 sexual assault and strangulation of an elementary school teacher in Pennsylvania.

LNP newspaper reports that the Lancaster County district attorney’s office gave notice last week of intent to seek capital punishment if 49-year-old Raymond Rowe is convicted of first-degree murder.

Rowe was charged earlier this year with criminal homicide, rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and burglary in the death of 25-year-old Christy Mirack in East Lampeter Township.

Prosecutors said the death penalty would be warranted because the killing was committed during the sexual assault and burglary felonies.

Police were unable to identify Rowe as a suspect until they uncovered genealogical data leading them to the professional DJ.

His attorney declined comment.

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Information from: LNP, http://lancasteronline.com