An Ohio man has avoided the death penalty in the killing of a 16-year-old

Associated Press

AKRON

An Ohio man has avoided the death penalty in the killing of a 16-year-old pregnant girl.

Although 26-year-old David Stoddard of Barberton, near Akron, will avoid execution, a Summit County jury decided Friday that he must spend the rest of his life in prison for aggravated murder, reckless homicide and other crimes.

Formal sentencing and statements from the family and friends of 16-year-old Anna Karam are set for May 23.

Police say Anna was baby-sitting at an Akron home Jan. 6, 2013, when Stoddard came in through a back door and started firing.

Anna, who was four months pregnant, was killed. A 19-year-old woman was shot in the head but survived.

Witnesses said Stoddard had been looking for his ex-girlfriend, who wasn’t at the home.