DA to seek death penalty against woman accused of recording son's death
The Allegheny County District Attorney's office will seek the death penalty against a McKeesport woman who police say recorded video images as she smothered her 1-year-old son and sent them to the boy's father.
Christian Clark, 21, is charged with homicide, attempted homicide of her 2-year-old daughter, aggravated assault and two counts of endangering the welfare of children.
According to Allegheny County police, on Nov. 1, Ms. Clark sent a series of text messages, pictures and videos to the children's father, Andre Price Jr., in which she told him she was going to harm the children, and then did.
Included in the exchange was one message just after 9 p.m. in which she wrote, "Ima kill them watch."
Ms. Clark repeatedly told Mr. Price what she was doing, writing, "I'm killing them," and sending a laughing emoji.
Mr. Price, who was later charged with two counts of endangering for failing to act, never called the police or went to her home to help the children.
Ms. Clark called 911 herself at 11:13 p.m. to report that her son was unresponsive. He was taken to UPMC McKeesport where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy showed he died from asphyxiation.
To pursue capital punishment, prosecutors must first obtain a verdict of guilt for first-degree murder. Then they must prove to a jury, unanimously, the existence of at least one aggravating factor, and that it outweighs any mitigation presented by the defense.
The DA's office laid out four aggravators in its notice seeking the death penalty today.
They include that Ms. Clark allegedly committed the killing while perpetrating another felony; that she knew she was creating a grave risk of death to another person in addition to the homicide victim; that the offense was committed by means of torture; and that the victim was less than 12 years old.
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/ci...s/201612150182
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