16-year-old charged in death of Pa. teacher

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — A 16-year-old Lancaster boy was charged today with homicide, burglary and conspiracy in the slaying of a sixth-grade math teacher who was found dead inside her home.

The boy told police he and an accomplice went to the Lancaster home of 32-year-old Nicole Mathewson intending to rob her, authorities said. The boy said he and his accomplice “applied force” to Mathewson and stole several items from the home, the police affidavit said.

The coroner said Mathewson died from several traumatic injuries. Her body was found Monday morning.

Mathewson taught for seven years at Brownstown Elementary School, which is about 10 miles northeast of her home.

The accomplice is not yet in custody, police said.

A district court clerk said the boy was jailed without bond and did not have a lawyer on file. The Associated Press typically does not identify juvenile criminal defendants.

A statement from the district superintendent posted on the school’s website expressed sympathy to Mathewson’s family and friends.