DA seeks death for 3 Pa. torture killing suspects

GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — A district attorney says he’ll pursue the death penalty against three of five adult suspects charged with torturing and murdering a mentally disabled western Pennsylvania woman.

Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck says 24-year-old Ricky Smyrnes, 20-year-old Melvin Knight, and 20-year-old Amber Meidinger deserve death if they’re convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Jennifer Daugherty.

The 30-year-old mentally disabled woman’s body was found stuffed in a trash container Feb. 11. Peck says the suspects tortured and killed her while committing other felonies, kidnapping and aggravated assault.

Investigators say Daugherty was forced to drink urine and detergent and write a “suicide” note before she was killed in Greensburg, about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh.