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 "Consequently, the charge of kidnapping will be withdrawn at the preliminary hearing," prosecutors announced in the document.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

[Campion]

The chat between the two friends did not seem to end well. Kara Beth Borden wrote later in all capital letters, the internet equivalent of shouting; "YOU DONT UNDERSTAND WE TOOK THAT RISK THE FIRST NIGHT HE CAME OVER... we said

From http://www.crimelibrary.com/news/original/1105/1601_kara_beth_ludwig_frightening_changes1.html, referenced on another thread.

He was sneaking into her room after hours.

[acad1228]

Just pointing out; Lizzie Borden was aquitted...

[cubreporter]

nothing is unbelieveable in todays world. I hope she did not participate in thise horrendous crime. I think the boy should go away for the rest of his life and if proven she was an accomplice...then same goes for her too.

[newgeezer]

there is only ONE sovereign of the universe.

Amen.

He was not surprised by any of this. Nor did it happen outside of His perfect will. Every individual breath drawn by every creature is a real-time gift from His sovereign hand.

[chronic_loser]

You're setting up a false dichotomy between "God's mercy" and "being a good enough parent"

You really don't understand what I am saying, but an internet bb won't do as a forum. Let me just wish you the very best and the abundance of God's mercy as you raise you own children.

As for me, sometimes I wonder why I find it easier to talk to the godless about grace than those in the church. I think it is that the godless have not had the experience of convincing themselves that "now we are doing it the right way" that I find so prevalent in Christendom. As for my part, I can understand why Jesus felt more at home with drunks, whores, and crooks than with the religiously devout. They knew they needed grace, they were just afraid to let go of their props to trust it. The religious tend to think that "grace" is the wrapped up in the ability to do it right with God's help now that we pay attention to the rule book. Been there, done that. I prefer the statement by Martyn Lloyd Jones where he said that "unless you are charged with antinomianism by the religious, you have never really preached grace."

Anyway, I hope it works out for you and your children bring you years of happiness and contentment.

[Genoa]

Do the right thing AND trust God for the outcome is probably the best way to sum it all up, so I think you're both sort of right. (And I think antinomianism is a huge problem in today's church, much as Lloyd-Jones seems to make light of it in your quote.)

[twigs]

He should get life. I'm not a believer of sentencing kids with adult guidelines. I'm no liberal, but I think kids think differently. But I agree with you, if Kara is proven to be a part of the planning, she should be charged appropriately.

[cubreporter]

life is fine with me.

[Campion]

You really don't understand what I am saying

I do, but I don't agree with all of it and don't see it as particularly helpful anyway.

Yes, everything is in God's hands. Yes, I should trust him because ultimately I can't get the job done without his help. I understand that.

That doesn't change the fact that there are decisions I have to make, with prayerful consideration. Those decisions really do matter, and there really are right choices and wrong ones, and it really does make a difference which one I choose. Am I guaranteed the right outcome? Of course not; that was never part of the deal in the first place.

your children bring you years of happiness and contentment

I didn't really have them to bring me years of happiness and contentment. I had them because raising children in the fear of the Lord is part of what I signed up for when I got married.

[Skywalk]

Actually, that's because that's a CONTRACT, but a minor with possession of alcohol still gets in trouble as would a minor who pulls the trigger in a murder or helps after teh fact.

Minors' ability to consent is very limited but it does exist. It is not a fast rule in the way you are portraying it.

[DA740]

I believe fathers should teach their children not to lie. The punishment for a boy lying should be swift and severe (a little less severe on girls, however).

DA740

[Genoa]

". . .a little less severe on girls. . . "

Why?

[HairOfTheDog]

I believe fathers should teach their children not to lie.

They all try. Mine did. And I still tried to get away with misbehavior, and sometimes succeeded.

I've seen, in recent days, the inexplicable destructive behavior of several angst-ridden teens who have traded temporary angst into permanent life changing tragedy. My level of empathy is high for the parents who died here, and pretty low for this little darling and her little boyfriend.

[DA740]

I believe it's unfair and unjust to try to train a girl not to lie. You just end up turning her into a worse basket case. Girls inhabit an emotional world where many times fiction and reality merge.

Should Martha Stewart have been jailed for lying? I don't think so.

Boys are different. Morals can more easily be drilled into them, especially honesty and integrity if it's done right.

DA740

[HamiltonJay]

That was added back this year (2005), it wasn't there before this year, they updated the law I think in 2002 or 2003? And there was not technical statutory rape in PA during that time.

I am no lawyer, but I remember that when the overhauled the laws a few years ago, statutory rape disappeared from the books.

[Kozak]

"It was an intentional murder, I intended to shoot them, and I did," Ludwig told a Lancaster County detective, according to the document.

Based on this statement, the little pr#ck should be convicted tommorow and sitting on ol Sparky the next day. Too bad we don't have much justice, just too much law....

[jude24]

That was added back this year (2005)

No, I merely consulted the 2005 edition of the Pa. Consolidated Laws. The statute in question dates back to 1995.

[chronic_loser]

I didn't really have them to bring me years of happiness and contentment. I had them because raising children in the fear of the Lord is part of what I signed up for when I got married.

Not much I could argue with or would want to argue with on that one. Best of everything to you.

[HamiltonJay]

Hmmm.. well then I am wrong.. but I could have swore when tehy did a rewrite not that long ago, they got rid of statutory rape as an official crime, but what would have been statutory rape became some other infraction.

[HairOfTheDog]

I believe it's unfair and unjust to try to train a girl not to lie. You just end up turning her into a worse basket case. Girls inhabit an emotional world where many times fiction and reality merge.

I'm afraid the place where fiction and reality have merged is in your broken dysfunctional mind.