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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

Posted on 11/22/2005 7:33:07 AM PST by 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"Consequently, the charge of kidnapping will be withdrawn at the preliminary hearing," prosecutors announced in the document.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



TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: borden; davidludwig; doublehomicide; karabethborden; karaborden; ludwig; murder; teenmurderer
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To: stylecouncilor

ping


41 posted on 11/22/2005 8:15:40 AM PST by windcliff
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To: Graymatter

"I'm starting my stopwatch now. Let's see how long it takes for her lawyer to claim she was monstrously abused by both parents."

Ditto that! OR the lawyer could use the infamous Menendez defense -- "She's a poor orphan."


42 posted on 11/22/2005 8:15:50 AM PST by Polyxene (For where God built a church, there the Devil would also build a chapel - Martin Luther)
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To: twigs
Well, I heard locally that the authorities were going to drop kidnapping charges.

Yes, that's true.

But, they shouldn't. That's the point.

43 posted on 11/22/2005 8:17:47 AM PST by newgeezer
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Comment #44 Removed by Moderator

To: Mr. Brightside
Apparently, the 'age of consent' in PA is 14. "� 3102. Mistake as to age. Except as otherwise provided, whenever in this chapter the criminality of conduct depends on a child being below the age of 14 years, it is no defense that the defendant did not know the age of the child or reasonably believed the child to be the age of 14 years or older. When criminality depends on the child's being below a critical age older than 14 years, it is a defense for the defendant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that he or she reasonably believed the child to be above the critical age." http://www.ageofconsent.com/pennsylvania.htm
45 posted on 11/22/2005 8:19:50 AM PST by Bigh4u2 (Denial is the first requirement to be a liberal)
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To: Bigh4u2

Sorry.

Don't know why it came out that way.


46 posted on 11/22/2005 8:20:57 AM PST by Bigh4u2 (Denial is the first requirement to be a liberal)
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Comment #47 Removed by Moderator

To: newgeezer

DING DING DING... I called this one.

Two Counts of Murder 1 for both of em


48 posted on 11/22/2005 8:23:34 AM PST by HamiltonJay
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To: newgeezer

You don't invite the man committing statutory rape with your daughter to your home.. you have him arrested, and you send her off to boarding school.


49 posted on 11/22/2005 8:25:27 AM PST by HamiltonJay
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To: newgeezer

50 posted on 11/22/2005 8:26:58 AM PST by Semi Civil Servant
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To: Bigh4u2

It wouldn't apply as the defendant is less than 5 years her senior, if memory serves. However, it doesn't matter, he's got bigger issues than possible statutory rape (which doesn't exist as a criminal offense in PA any longer)...


51 posted on 11/22/2005 8:27:18 AM PST by HamiltonJay
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To: HamiltonJay
You don't invite the man committing statutory rape with your daughter to your home.. you have him arrested

Certainly, but that's only an option if this meets the legal definition of statutory rape in the great state of Pennsylvania.

52 posted on 11/22/2005 8:27:27 AM PST by newgeezer
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To: newgeezer

Hang the boy tonight, let the girl watch the same way she watched her parents and then put her in a box for the rest of her life.


53 posted on 11/22/2005 8:27:34 AM PST by AD from SpringBay (We have the government we allow and deserve.)
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To: Bigh4u2

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.

You can't point the finger at this girl. Her father should have had his lights on and didn't. Unfortunately, that's happening all around us.

DA740


54 posted on 11/22/2005 8:29:53 AM PST by DA740
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To: newgeezer

Well statutory rape no longer exists in PA... and it wouldn't have applied in this case even when it did... as there was an exhemption if there was less than 5 years difference in their ages and the younger was over 13 I believe...

PA dropped the statutory rape code a few years ago, now it falls under contributing to deliquency of a minor or some such... but this relationship would not have fallen under the law anyway.

Either way, you don't invite them to your house, you send your wild child off to military bording school. Believe me, I'm not inviting Junior over to my house to talk to him, because frankly if I did, I would likely wind up in Jail for what I wound up doing to him.


55 posted on 11/22/2005 8:30:06 AM PST by HamiltonJay
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To: Bigh4u2

Age of consent is 16. Below that age (13-15) it is statutory rape when their is greater than a four year age difference between the parties. Under 13 is automatically rape. David and Kara have a 4 year, 1 month age difference between. Because she is 14,if he was charged with statutory rape he would have to prove that he 1) didn't know how old she was and 2) believed she was older than 14. I doubt he could proof that.


56 posted on 11/22/2005 8:31:02 AM PST by LWalk18
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To: DA740

Sorry, but I don't blame the father for not having his lights on... teenagers disobey their parents. This incident falls squarely on this girls shoulders. The parents may have been able to do some things differently, but from what's been reported, this isn't a case where mom and dad were obvlious or neglectful.

More a story of lolita wanting to run wild, and mom and dad having a hard time keeping her in line.


57 posted on 11/22/2005 8:32:04 AM PST by HamiltonJay
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To: DA740

"Her father should have had his lights on and didn't."

According to the article, they were meeting in secret and her father found out and invited the boy over to confront him, when he(the boy) killed them.


58 posted on 11/22/2005 8:32:24 AM PST by Bigh4u2 (Denial is the first requirement to be a liberal)
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To: newgeezer
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.

big mistake on the parents' part! when i was in school, lots of kids did this... my mom was wise to this... she would take me to the house where i was to stay the night... she made sure i went in with all my sleepover stuff, said "hi" to the parents, and then she would always be the one to pick me up... and even after doing all this, my mom really had no control over what i did once she was gone...

my older sister never let my niece go to any sleep overs...

59 posted on 11/22/2005 8:32:30 AM PST by latina4dubya
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To: HamiltonJay

It is now called statutory sexual assault- same thing essentially as statutory rape. It is a felony in the second degree in PA.


60 posted on 11/22/2005 8:33:49 AM PST by LWalk18
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