[fivecatsandadog]

"But what if no one offers or asks for a plea, = they're confident of their position..
AND the DA doesn't ask for the death penalty. = state's evidence is shaky, they'll take whatever charge/sentence they can get....

[Valpal1]

AND the DA doesn't ask for the death penalty. = state's evidence is shaky, they'll take whatever charge/sentence they can get....

I have wondered if they won't ask for the death penalty because they have no evidence (that we know of, yet) of sexual assault or actual cause of death because of the ravaged condition of her body.

A lot hinges on that "pornography collection" that turned out to be "less than 100 questionable images". See my post #21 about the nature of pedophile "collections". The DA entered that into evidence as proof of motive. Lacking forensic evidence, are they going to use circumstantial evidence to prove the sexual nature of the crime? Ask yourself about the nature of the non-pornographic images? Will they demonstrate an obsession with children?