Suspect confesses to 'intentional' murder [Ludwig, 18, and Borden, 14, describe Borden murders]

Lancaster PA Intelligencer Journal ^ | Nov 22, 2005 9:48 AM EST | Justin Quinn, Intelligencer Journal Staff

[newgeezer]

Suspect confesses to 'intentional' murder' By Justin Quinn, Intelligencer Journal Staff Intelligencer Journal Published: Nov 22, 2005 9:48 AM EST LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - Minutes after her boyfriend allegedly shot and killed her parents, 14-year-old Kara Beth Borden ran down the driveway and jumped into his car, intending to "get as far away as possible, get married and start a new life," according to a court document released Monday.The same document also reveals David G. Ludwig admitted killing Michael F. and Cathryn Lee Borden, both 50, in their home on Nov. 13. "It was an intentional murder, I intended to shoot them, and I did," Ludwig told a Lancaster County detective, according to the document. Authorities charged Ludwig with kidnapping Kara after the slayings. They now believe she willingly fled with Ludwig. "Consequently, the charge of kidnapping will be withdrawn at the preliminary hearing," prosecutors announced in the document. "While the information provided to Warwick Township Police Department on Nov. 13 provided officers with probable cause to believe that (Kara Borden) had been kidnapped, subsequent investigation has determined that (Kara Borden) voluntarily left her residence with David Ludwig." Ludwig, 18, of 422-A W. Orange St., Lititz, and Kara were captured Nov. 14 by Indiana State Police after a nationwide manhunt. Ludwig was flown back to Lancaster County the next day to face two counts of criminal homicide and one count each of kidnapping and recklessly endangering another person. Kara was flown back to the county in a separate airplane and was subsequently interviewed by county Detective Joseph P. Geesey. According to the document filed by prosecutors, Kara told county Detective Joseph P. Geesey that, after allegedly killing her parents, Ludwig was unable to find her. "Therefore, he fled the residence and drove around in his car in an effort to locate her," the document reads. "After traveling approximately 15 feet, the defendant saw (Kara) running down the road towards him. Ludwig then opened the door, and (Kara) got into the car. (Kara) told the defendant that she wanted to stay with him, and they drove west with the intent to 'get as far away as possible, get married and start a new life.'"ˆ" She also told Geesey, according to the filing, that "at no time did the defendant force her to go with him after he shot and killed her parents. Rather, she acknowledged going with him 'of her own free will.'"ˆ" The 14-year-old also described the killings. "Ms. (Borden) was present in her home when the defendant David Ludwig arrived ... ," the document reads. "After a lengthy conversation between the defendant and Michael Borden, (Kara) observed the defendant pull out a gun and shoot her father. As she fled from the house, (Kara) then saw the defendant turn and point his gun towards her mother." Ludwig corroborated Kara's statement to Geesey with one of his own, according to the latest filing. "After talking for 30 to 45 minutes, Mr. Borden informed the defendant that he was no longer permitted to see (Kara)," the document reads. "For that reason, the defendant 'decided to shoot her dad and her mom.'"ˆ" Ludwig told Geesey that he "drew the pistol and shot her dad in the back as he was going down the hallway to the front door. I was behind him, I may have taken two steps toward him. I pulled the gun when I stood up, took two steps down the hallway and fired. His back was towards me.'"ˆ" Ludwig continued his confession, according to the document, by saying he turned from Mr. Borden and proceeded back into the living room. "I took about two steps in to the living room," Ludwig told Geesey. "I shot Kara's mom as she was sitting in the chair." Friday, Assistant Public Defender James Gratton and Deputy Public Defender Merrill Spahn filed a motion to preserve evidence. Their motion suggested Kara was not kidnapped after the killings of her parents. Lancaster County District Attorney Donald R. Totaro filed an answer to the defense request Monday and, for the first time, made known his intention to drop the kidnapping charge. Reached Monday night, Totaro said prosecutors "will continue to aggressively prosecute the defendant" on the remaining charges. "The decision to withdraw this charge was made prior to the defendant's motion, based upon several interviews last week that clearly showed Kara Borden voluntarily left her residence with the defendant," Totaro said. "The defense motion simply expedited the announcement." Judge Joseph C. Madenspacher signed an order Monday "to preserve any and all physical and electronic evidence" as identified in the defense motion and agreed to by the prosecution. "The order that's been entered satisfies our concerns that the evidence is being preserved," Gratton said Monday. "It is not appropriate for me to comment on the facts at this time." The defense motion sought to preserve the contents of Ludwig's wallet; Internet evidence, including personal Web sites and e-mail correspondences between Ludwig and Kara; cell phone records; and records from their computers and hand-held computers. The defense motion also wanted to preserve videotape evidence, which would be ascertainable only through the contents of Ludwig's wallet. Totaro's answer says it is unknown whether Ludwig's wallet contains evidence for "all stops" made during his and Kara's flight from the county, but promises that "any videotape evidence in the custody of the Commonwealth will be provided to the defendant "¦ ." The Bordens reportedly had forbidden Kara from seeing Ludwig because of the age difference between the teens. A witness told investigators the teens, who had been secretly dating, had a sexual relationship. Kara had reportedly told her parents she was at a sleepover Nov. 12, but after Ludwig dropped her off at her home about 6 a.m. Nov. 13, they determined she had been with him. The Bordens summoned him back to the house to discuss the situation, according to Warwick Township police. When Ludwig returned, he concealed a .40-caliber handgun in his clothing, police said. Kara's brother, David, 11, and sister, Katelyn, 15, also were in the house. The children ran to neighboring homes as Ludwig and Kara fled in the Ludwigs' Volkswagen. Justin Quinn's e-mail address is jquinn@lnpnews.com

[LWalk18]

Okay, what would you have done differently than the Bordens that would have prevented their murder? Gotten her in involved in church? They did that. Kept her away from public schools? They did that. Put their foot down and told David to stay away from their daughter? They did that.

David Ludwig executed the Borden. He is the one responsible for their deaths. If Kara helped him plan, she is also responsible for their deaths. But we have no evidence that the Bordens were anything else than loving, involved parents. Even if they were lousy parents, the punishment for poor parenting is not death.

[little jeremiah]

And fortunate daughters they are.

[Mila]

I think that Caril Fugate was sentenced to life,but actually did a little less than twenty years.

[Campion]

Okay, what would you have done differently than the Bordens that would have prevented their murder? Gotten her in involved in church? They did that. Kept her away from public schools? They did that. Put their foot down and told David to stay away from their daughter? They did that.

How about no unsupervised Internet access?

How about a security system so that Ludwig couldn't get into the house at night to sleep with their daughter?

How about making a point of researching her "sleepovers with friends" by checking out things with the other parents, instead of assuming they were okay?

This isn't "blaming the victims," it's those of us who are parents trying to understand what went wrong so we can avoid it in our own families.

[chronic_loser]

You are woefully uninformed on this one.

[Leatherneck_MT]

" What charges? "

It's called Accessory after the fact.

She went with him, she chased him down. Her actions at that point made her an accessory after the fact, to the murder of her parents.

[DA740]

I didn't say that the Bordens were responsible for their own deaths. They were murdered by a low-life bum who managed to get his tenacles around their 14 year-old daughter. That young man must pay for that.

But the father should have prevented that situation with that kid from arising in the first place by supervising his daughter better and keeping her home.

Furthermore, the chilling coldness with which that little girl aided and abetted the deaths of her own parents suggests to me that there was something very wrong going on under that roof that we know little of at this point. What appears on the surface is not always what is the truth.

DA740

[bonfire]

Or they were just bad seeds.

[DA740]

I don't believe in "bad seeds."

I watched "Boys Town."

DA740

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Borden Murders

[bonfire]

There's only one Mickey Rooney.

[chronic_loser]

How about no unsupervised Internet access? In fact, her parents had shut down their internet service b/c of inappropriate activity on the part of their daughter.

How about a security system so that Ludwig couldn't get into the house at night to sleep with their daughter?

There is no evidence this ever happened.

This isn't "blaming the victims," it's those of us who are parents trying to understand what went wrong so we can avoid it in our own families.

It sure is. As a matter of fact, it is a recurring phenomenon among otherwise good parents who mistakenly believe that if you just come up with the correct "system" that your kids will turn out ok. Thank God, ours did, but we are not foolish enough to believe it was because we did all the "right" things. Evil is resident in the hearts of all of Adam's descendants, and you cannot condition it out with any amount of religious and/or restrictive activity. The seeds of murder are in every kid, and if the master surgeon cuts them out it is because of GRACE AND MERCY, not because I homeschooled them (both these kids were homeschooled and were involved in church) and taught them the bible, or did whatever other good activity. In reality, the reason I myself am not dead over some whack job like this is God's mercy to me and my daughters, not because I was a "good enough" parent. Kids are not coke machines that guarantee a good product if you can just insert the right combination. It is a myth to think you can find that combo. Rather, you do your best and pray and acknowledge that there is only ONE sovereign of the universe. Anything else is self-deception.

[DA740]

Yep. And only one Spencer Tracy.

I still choke up watching "Captains Courageous."

DA740

[jude24]

They did not repeal the statutory felony sexual assault provision.

18 Pa.C.S. § 3122.1 (2005)

§ 3122.1. Statutory sexual assault

Except as provided in section 3121 (relating to rape), a person commits a felony of the second degree when that person engages in sexual intercourse with a complainant under the age of 16 years and that person is four or more years older than the complainant and the complainant and the person are not married to each other.

[Genoa]

"there is only ONE sovereign of the universe"

Right on. Nobody has the antidote to sin but God himself.

[bonfire]

Me too :)

[HairOfTheDog]

The problem here is this girl's father. Why would the father of a beautiful little 14 year old girl let out on the streets to consort with older boys like a piece of meat and get wrapped up with bums like this loser, Ludwig. This girl belonged at home inside the house, not out on the streets.

She was supposed to be at a friend's house for a sleepover. She lied to him about where she was.

[HairOfTheDog]

This isn't "blaming the victims," it's those of us who are parents trying to understand what went wrong so we can avoid it in our own families.

Good luck to you.... Kids can be crafty, even those that will never turn out this way.

[Proud 2BeTexan]

You are right - it was the fact that they were trying to be good parents that got them shot. If they had just said - oh, whatever, do what you want - they'd probably still be alive. They were shot because they were interfering with what these headstrong young people just "had to have."

[Campion]

In fact, her parents had shut down their internet service b/c of inappropriate activity on the part of their daughter.

Good, but too late.

There is no evidence this ever happened.

Sorry, but Kara referred to it in her blog. Her friends also have said that it was going on.

In reality, the reason I myself am not dead over some whack job like this is God's mercy to me and my daughters, not because I was a "good enough" parent.

You're setting up a false dichotomy between "God's mercy" and "being a good enough parent". There's no dichotomy. Part of God's mercy is setting you up as the parent over your child. Discussing how best to carry out that task does not demean or diminish His role, nor does it imply that you can somehow do it without his help.

Kids are not coke machines that guarantee a good product if you can just insert the right combination. It is a myth to think you can find that combo. Rather, you do your best

Yes -- my point is precisely to discuss what "do your best" is, in concrete terms.