WCCS News Do you want to share this? Share JUDGE GRANTS EXTENSION ON DEATH PENALTY IN MURPHY CASE Accused triple-murderer pleadsd not guilty 7/22/2010 A Westmoreland County Judge has given the county’s district attorney a ten-week extension to determine whether or not he will seek the death penalty against 49-year-old Kevin Murphy, who is accused of murdering his sister, mother, and aunt at their family’s business outside of Saltsburg in April of 2009. Murphy yesterday waived his right to a formal arraignment yesterday and entered a plea of not guilty. Murphy is charged with shooting to death his sister, Kris Murphy, his mother, Doris Murphy, and his aunt, Edith Tietge. DA John Peck has until September 30th to make his decision. He told Judge John Blahovec in a court document that he has not had sufficient time to complete his investigation. Peck says “other matters” have arisen during the investigation that need to be looked at. Those “other matters” could involve Susan Bortz McGuire, the married woman with whom Murphy was allegedly having an affair. A fellow prison inmate testified in May that Murphy confessed to the murders to him, telling him that McGuire had given him an ultimatum and the two had planned the murders together. McGuire has not been charged. She moved in with Murphy soon after the murders and has been involved in operating the family glass business. Murphy was arrested on April 23rd this year, the one-year anniversary of the slayings.  «  Return to previous page  »  Send to a friend ShareThis