Prosecutors Will Seek Death Penalty for David Ludwig

Lancaster County District Attorney Don Totaro announced Friday that he will seek the death penalty against 18-year old David Ludwig, who is accused of murdering his girlfriend’s parents after an argument over his relationship with their daughter. Totaro said that no criminal charges will be filed against Ludwig’s 14-year old girlfriend, Kara Beth Borden, because statements from Ludwig convinced investigators that she had nothing to do with the murders. "There was no plan or no agreement to harm her parents in any way," Totaro said.

On November 13, Ludwig dropped the girl off at her house at about 5:30 a.m., after the two had spent the night together. A little while later, Kara called Ludwig to tell him that her parents had caught her coming in late and they were angry with her. She asked him to return to the house, so he did—carrying two guns and a hunting knife. Kara’s father, Michael Borden, spoke with Ludwig for about 30 or 40 minutes, during which he told the teen that he could no longer see his daughter. The talk both stunned and angered Ludwig. "All witness accounts from the scene suggest that the defendant became upset; for several minutes he stood there, sat there, really looking into space," Totaro said.

According to Ludwig’s statements to police, it was during that time that he decided to kill his girlfriend’s parents. He shot Michael Borden from behind as he was walking toward the front door. When Cathryn Borden rose from her chair, Ludwig shot her as well. Both were shot in the head. Kara’s 13-year old sister, Katelyn, saw Ludwig shoot her father, so she ran into the bathroom, where she heard a second shot, probably the one that killed her mother. The couple’s 9-year-old son ran to the neighbors, who called 911, as Ludwig ran through the house calling for Kara.

Ludwig left the house and started to drive away when he saw that Kara was running after him, so he stopped so she could get in his car. According to court documents, Kara told him that he wanted to "get as far away as possible, get married, and start a new life." Totaro said that although the teens had discussed what they would do if her parents ever found out about their relationship, they had never discussed anything as drastic as murder. "There was a plan if they were caught in the relationship, to possibly run away. That was the extent of the plan," Totaro said. Police began searching for the car immediately, and the teens were captured the next day in Indiana after a high-speed chase that ended with Ludwig crashing his parents’ car.

Michael Borden worked for a printing company, and his children were home-schooled. Ludwig had met Katelyn through a home-schooling network. The Bordens evidently knew nothing about Ludwig’s relationship with their daughter until the night they were murdered. Ludwig is charged with numerous crimes in addition to murder, including a firearms violation and sexual assault. Kidnapping charges were dropped, but he is still charged with reckless endangerment. Totaro said that the death penalty is justified in Ludwig’s case because there was more than one victim and the couple’s children were home at the time. Ludwig’s formal arraignment is scheduled for January 25.