In a domestic violence incident turned fatal, in which a man strangled his girlfriend to death in her home while his children lay sleeping, has resulted in the man's guilty plea, as reported by the Times Herald.
After killing A.S., 31, on February 2, 2012 E.C., 38, put her body into the basement of her home and then took off to Florida in her car.
E.C. pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, theft by unlawful taking and access device fraud.
Assistant District Attorney Wallis Brooks commented, "He strangled a defenseless woman in her bedroom with her children asleep in the house. It doesn't get any worse than this. This is a murder case." Brooks leads the district attorney's domestic violence prosecution unit.
Judge William J. Furber Jr., the presiding judge in Montgomery County Court, has deferred E.C.'s sentencing until court officials have enough time to complete an investigation into E.C.'s background. He will remain behind bars until his sentencing.
E.C. faces a 30 ½ to 61 years in prison if found guilty as third degree murder constitutes a killing that was committed with malicious intent.
As part of E.C.'s plea deal a charge of first-degree murder, killing with specific intent, was dismissed. Had E.C. been found guilty on that charge he would have been looking at a life sentence.
E.C. claims to have been prompted to attack A.S. as she had made racial slurs against his two children. Allegedly A.S. said that the children, a 7 year-old girl and 12 year-old boy, were "half black."
Defense attorney Sharon Meisler argued, "He admitted that he took her life…She made these statements, he snapped, he started to choke her and when they fell off the bed he realized 'Oh my God what have I done.' He reacted poorly, we're not disputing that at all."
Brooks, in regards to the amount of evidence against E.C., said, "You argued with (A.S.) and then you strangled (A.S.) to death with your hands. When you first grabbed the victim's throat you two were on her bed. Then with your hands still around her neck, the two of you fell off the bed and onto the floor and Alicia was not breathing. Is that correct?"
E.C. answered, "Yes."
After strangling A.S. until she was dead, E.C. put her body at the bottom of a stairway in the basement.
E.C.'s former wife told detectives that E.C. had called her, admitted to possibly killing A.S., and Pottstown police were then dispatched to the scene.
According to Detective Todd Richard A.S. was discovered "lying on her back at the bottom of the stairs…obviously lifeless."
E.C. stole $40 cash from A.S. and a debit card that belonged to her father, before fleeing the scene. Records show that E.C. removed almost $3,500 from the account before he was arrested in a Florida casino.
Facing minor to serious criminal charges? Do the best thing you can for yourself and contact a criminal defense attorney for help right away with your case!
