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Thread: Thomas Haggie receives 2 Life Sentences In 2009 PA Murder of Megan Konopka

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    Thomas Haggie receives 2 Life Sentences In 2009 PA Murder of Megan Konopka

    Prosecutors seek death penalty in Riddell House murder case

    Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for the two men accused of murdering a pregnant woman in the Riddell House in September.

    On Monday, McKean County District Attorney Ray Learn filed a Notice of Aggravating Circumstances in the case of Thomas Paul Haggie, and told The Era he plans to file one for Greggory Alan Theobald as well.

    The two men are accused of choking and stabbing Megan Konopka, 21, who was 38 weeks pregnant with a son at the time of her death.

    Haggie is set for arraignment in McKean County Court on Jan. 21, and Theobald is scheduled for Jan. 28. The district attorney must file a criminal information within 10 days of the scheduled arraignment.

    “I expect to file a criminal information within 10 days of Theobald’s arraignment,” Learn said.

    The notice of aggravating circumstances for Haggie states, “The defendant has a significant history of felony convictions involving the use or threat of violence to the person,” and that, “At the time of the killing, the victim was in her third trimester of pregnancy or the defendant had knowledge of the victim’s pregnancy.”

    Haggie, 29, who was renting the room at the Riddell House where Konopka was killed; and Theobald, 20, of Congress Street in Bradford, are both charged with homicide, homicide of an unborn child and conspiracy to commit both homicides.

    Both men are incarcerated without bail.

    Haggie’s attorneys are Gary Knaresboro and Mike Marshall of Clearfield County. Theobald’s attorneys are Assistant Public Defender Dennis Luttenauer and Jefferson County attorney John Ingros. Attorneys Knaresboro, Marshall and Ingros are certified by Pennsylvania to defend death penalty cases.

    Both Haggie and Theobald have given confessions to the police.

    On Sept. 13, Bradford City Police were contacted by a woman in California to whom Haggie had sent cell phone photos of the murder scene. Officers recognized the Riddell House from the photos and went there to check on a possible murder in a room rented by Haggie.

    The door was unlocked, and an officer entered the room, finding Konopka on the floor showing no signs of life.

    Interviews with witnesses at the Riddell House led police to Theobald, who was arrested soon after. Haggie had fled, and was arrested in Elmira, N.Y.

    The last time the death penalty was sought in McKean County Court of Common Pleas was in 1999 in the case of Timothy Williams, who shot Kane Borough Police Officer Steve Jerman at a routine traffic stop in Kane. However, Williams was not convicted of first-degree murder; he was convicted of the lesser charge of third-degree murder. Therefore, the death penalty did not apply. Williams is serving 22 to 47 years in state prison.

    In 2001, James McMahon was convicted of first-degree murder for the stabbing death of Link Dowell III in a bar fight in the Hotel Bradford. However, the prosecutor’s office did not seek the death penalty in that case. McMahon is serving life in prison.

    http://www.bradfordera.com/articles/2010/01/12/news/doc4b4be6f401fc1534510986

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    McKean County DA files notice to pursue death penalty on Theobald

    The McKean County District Attorney has filed notice to pursue the death penalty on the second suspect in the murder of 21-year-old Megan Konopka in September.

    On Thursday, District Attorney Ray Learn filed a notice of aggravating circumstances in the case against Greggory Alan Theobald, 20, of Congress Street, Bradford.

    Theobald and Thomas Paul Haggie, 29, are both charged with homicide, homicide of an unborn child and conspiracy to commit both homicides.

    According to court records, between Sept. 12 and 13, Theobald and Haggie conspired together to kill Konopka and her unborn son; she was 38 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.

    The notice of aggravating circumstances in Theobald’s case reads, “At the time of the killing, the victim was in her third trimester of pregnancy or the defendant had knowledge of the victim’s pregnancy.”

    Theobald is scheduled for arraignment in McKean County Court on Jan. 28. Haggie was arraigned Wednesday, and entered a plea of not guilty at that time.

    The notice in Haggie’s case, filed on Jan. 11, noted the same reason, as well as an additional reason — “The defendant has a significant history of felony convictions involving the use or threat of violence to the person.”

    According to court records, on Sept. 13, they were contacted by a California woman who knew Haggie. She said Haggie had called her, told her he killed someone in Bradford and sent her cell phone pictures of the crime scene.

    The woman sent the pictures to police, who recognized the background of the photos as being the Riddell House in Bradford. Officers went to the Riddell House, learned that Haggie had rented a room there and went to the room.

    Officers knocked at the door, and eventually found it to be unlocked. Konopka was discovered dead on the floor inside the room.

    Others at the Riddell House told police that Theobald and Haggie were the ones last seen with Konopka.

    Police picked up Theobald that night. Haggie was arrested in Elmira, N.Y., on Sept. 14.

    Both men are incarcerated without bail pending further court action.

    http://www.bradfordera.com/articles/2010/01/22/news/doc4b59179decf3a330434957.txt

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    Accused murderers Haggie, Theobald appear in county court

    SMETHPORT — The two men accused in the murder of a pregnant woman at the Riddell House in September were in McKean County Court Thursday to apprise President Judge John Pavlock of the progress in their criminal cases.

    Thomas Paul Haggie’s case was handled first. Haggie, 30, and Greggory Alan Theobald, 20, are both charged with two counts each of homicide and conspiracy to commit homicide for the murders of Megan Konopka, 21, and her unborn son, on Sept. 12 at the Riddell House.

    The first item handled was the conclusion of argument in a motion to suppress evidence in Haggie’s case. At issue is the entry of investigating Bradford City Police Officer Mike Ward into Haggie’s rented room at the Riddell House without a warrant.

    On Sept. 13, police received a call from a woman in California who knew Haggie. She explained he called and told her he killed someone, and sent her a picture of the body through her cell phone. Police were able to identify the Riddell House from a photo she forwarded to them, and went there to see if there was someone in need of assistance.

    Officers knocked at the door of Haggie’s room, found it to be unlocked and Ward entered. When he saw Konopka’s lifeless body, he immediately left the room, secured the scene and obtained a search warrant.

    Defense attorneys Gary Knaresboro and Mike Marshall argued that he shouldn’t have entered, saying the pictures and information obtained from the woman in California should have been enough to convince the police that anyone inside the room was already dead.

    “The possibility of someone needing help was so remote,” Marshall said at the hearing Thursday. “If you know someone’s been killed, there’s no exigent need to get to them.”

    District Attorney Ray Learn argued that Ward had a “good faith belief someone may be in peril of bodily harm,” which is an exception to the law requiring search warrants. He explained the photos sent to Ward showed a “bloody body.” It wasn’t clear that the person in the photo was dead, Learn said.

    “When he saw that she was dead, he went for a warrant,” Learn said.

    President Judge John Pavlock said he would take the matters into consideration and issue a ruling in the near future.

    He then asked the attorneys if the case was anywhere close to being ready for trial.

    Knaresboro explained that the defense attorneys are awaiting Haggie’s records from California, which the court-appointed psychiatrist wants to see prior to examining him. Learn said depending on the findings of the psychiatrist, the prosecution may want to have an expert examine Haggie as well.

    “We need to set some targets in this case and try to keep them,” Pavlock said, setting another status conference for 45 days from Thursday.

    After the conclusion of Haggie’s case, Theobald was brought before the court with his attorneys, Dennis Luttenauer and John Ingros. The attorneys all met with Pavlock in his chambers for several minutes, then returned to the courtroom. Pavlock announced there were some discovery issues with the defense, as e-mailed photos could not be opened.

    The prosecution agreed to rectify the issue, and Pavlock set another status conference for 30 days from Thursday.

    Both Haggie and Theobald remain incarcerated without bail. The prosecution is seeking the death penalty in both cases.

    http://www.bradfordera.com/articles/2010/05/23/news/doc4bf5f5d5d334a059690032.txt

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    Pa. man faces 2 life terms in slaying photos case

    One of two men charged with killing a pregnant woman and her unborn child in northwestern Pennsylvania has pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder.

    Greggory Theobald will be sentenced to two life terms in prison as part of the plea deal Tuesday in which the McKean County prosecutor agreed to not pursue the death penalty.

    The 21-year-old Theobald and another Bradford man, 29-year-old Thomas Haggie, were charged in the September killing of Megan Konopka in a Bradford rooming house.

    Authorities say Haggie was Konopka's ex-boyfriend, and called a woman in California after trying to strangle Konopka. After allegedly stabbing Konopka, police say Haggie sent photos to the woman, who contacted police.

    The case against Haggie is still pending.

    http://www.whptv.com/news/state/story/Pa-man-faces-2-life-terms-in-slaying-photos-case/GinELcQHA0SGFchPc1mjhQ.cspx?rss=51

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    Man sentenced in slaying of pregnant woman


    BRADFORD, Pa. -- One of two men charged with killing a pregnant woman and her unborn child in has been sentenced to two life sentences.

    Greggory Theobald was sentenced Thursday as part of the plea deal he agreed to last month. In return, McKean County prosecutors agreed to not pursue the death penalty.

    The 21-year-old Mr. Theobald and another Bradford man, 29-year-old Thomas Haggie, were charged in the September killing of Megan Konopka in a Bradford rooming house.

    Authorities say Mr. Haggie was Ms. Konopka's ex-boyfriend, and called a woman in California after trying to strangle Ms. Konopka. After allegedly stabbing Ms. Konopka, Mr. Haggie sent photos to the woman, who contacted police.

    Mr. Haggie has pleaded not guilty and is undergoing a psychiatric evaluation while awaiting trial.


    http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10218/1078187-100.stm?cmpid=latest.xml

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    A McKean county judge rejected a guilty plea from a man accused of killing a 2007 Norwin High School graduate and her unborn child after the defendant told the court he had not taken medication for a mental health condition.

    Thomas Haggie, 31, and Greggory Theobald, 21, were charged with strangling and stabbing Megan Konopka, 21, in a hotel room in Bradford, McKean County, last year. Konopka, who grew up in North Huntingdon, was eight months pregnant at the time of her death. Her unborn son died, and both men were charged in his death as well.

    Haggie, who appeared before a McKean County judge Thursday, appeared unhinged, giggling and cursing, as he submitted his guilty plea, those present reported.

    District Attorney Raymond Learn said that when he entered the courtroom holding a large three-ring binder that contained Haggie's files, Haggie noted the size of the binder and exclaimed, "Holy schmolies!"

    "He's always a little outrageous in court," Learn said.

    One of Haggie's attorneys, Gary Knaresboro of Dubois, said that Haggie takes medication for a mental health condition, but that he announced to the court that he had not taken it yesterday. Knaresboro declined to specify the condition.

    After Haggie claimed to be unmedicated, McKean County President Judge John Pavlock said he would not accept the guilty plea.

    "The court was cautious whether he knew what he was doing," Knaresboro said.

    Haggie's guilty plea was rescheduled for Dec. 16.

    "Hopefully, he will stay on his medication, and the plea will go through," Knaresboro said, adding that if the case goes to trial there may be "competency issues."

    Learn said the plea deal was for two life sentences, with the death penalty taken off the table. Learn had originally sought the death penalty for both suspects.

    Theobald pleaded guilty in July, and he received two life sentences. He was housed at the State Correctional Institution at Fayette, a maximum security prison.

    http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_713309.html

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    Suspect pleads to killing pregnant Pa. woman

    A northwestern Pennsylvania man admitted he killed a pregnant woman and her unborn son, entering a guilty plea one week after a judge refused the plea because the defendant hadn't taken medications to control his schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

    Thomas Haggie, 31, of Bradford, faces two life sentences for killing Megan Konopka, who was eight months pregnant, with the help of another man in a rooming house in September 2009.

    McKean County Judge John Pavlock accepted the plea Thursday after being assured that Haggie had taken his medication and understood the charges and consequences of the plea. The same judge had rejected Haggie's plea last week after the defendant laughed, cursed, and exclaimed, "Holy schmolies!" when prosecutors and police arrived.

    Still, Haggie's appearance Thursday wasn't without incident, as he spit in the face of his arresting officer as he was led back to jail. District Attorney Raymond Learn said it would "be dealt with" but didn't specify how.

    Before the guilty plea, Learn told the court how the killings occurred: Haggie has sex with Konopka in his room and then choked her when co-defendant Greggory Theobald walked in. Haggie made Theobald choke Konopka, too, before Haggie started hitting her and then stabbed her in the neck, Learn said.

    After questioning to ensure Haggie took his medication, Judge Pavlock then asked Haggie whether he agreed with Learn's account.

    "No," Haggie said. "I cut her throat after Greg done choked her."

    Asked why he did that, Haggie said, "I couldn't tell you" except to say he was "really drunk."

    "It just happened. It wasn't like we sat there and planned it," he said.

    Theobald is serving two life sentences after pleading guilty earlier this year.

    The case was marked by an unusual twist. Haggie called a female friend in California to say he had killed someone and then sent her cell phone photos of the bloody crime scene.

    That woman called Bradford police and sent them the pictures. After finding Konopka's body, they arrested Theobald at his home and Haggie, who had fled to New York, the next day.

    The victim's mother, Carolyn Konopka, of North Huntingdon, said she was satisfied with the verdict.

    "He's just a psychopath," she said. "There's nothing you can say about someone like that. If you get mad at him, it doesn't matter. He's ruined everyone's lives."

    Theobald and Haggie avoided the possible death penalty by pleading guilty. The judge will formally impose Haggie's mandatory life sentences on Jan. 13.

    http://www.timesleader.com/news/ap?articleID=6079891

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    2 life terms for killing pregnant Pa. woman

    (AP)

    A northwestern Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to consecutive life prison terms for stabbing and choking a pregnant woman, which also killed her unborn son _ after which he sent cell phone pictures of the crime scene to a woman who turned him in.

    Thirty-one-year-old Thomas Haggie, of Bradford, was sentenced Thursday.

    He had pleaded guilty last month to killing Megan Konopka, who was eight months pregnant, with the help of another man in September 2009. Haggie avoided the possible death penalty by pleading guilty.

    His guilty plea was delayed when he laughed, cursed, and exclaimed, "Holy schmolies!" when prosecutors and police arrived.

    A McKean County judge learned Haggie hadn't taken his psychiatric medication and accepted a plea a week later after Haggie was medicated.

    http://www.timesleader.com/news/ap?articleID=6288011

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