Death penalty to be sought against Pa. man in wife's fire death

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Prosecutors in western Pennsylvania say they plan to seek the death penalty against a man accused of having set a fire that killed his estranged wife.

James Karr, 47, is charged in Allegheny County with homicide and arson in the Dec. 30 fire in Duquesne that killed 56-year-old Maureen Karr.

The victim had sought a protection-from-abuse order, alleging that her husband had threatened to burn down her home.

The district attorney’s office said today the death penalty will be sought if Karr is convicted of first-degree murder.

Prosecutors cited as factors supporting the decision the fact that the victim was to be a witness and the allegations that another person was threatened, torture was involved and the crime occurred during commission of a felony.

Karr’s attorney declined comment.