Prosecutors To Seek Death Penalty In Slayings Of 2 In May

HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Prosecutors say they plan to seek the death penalty if a man is convicted of first-degree murder in the deaths of two people whose bodies were found in a Pennsylvania home earlier this year.

Thirty-two-year-old Isaiah Payne of Philadelphia is charged in the deaths of 28-year-old Mikal Jackson-Stevenson and 52-year-old Natalie Washington in Altoona in May.

Prosecutors said Friday that capital punishment would be warranted in the case of a first-degree murder conviction because there were multiple victims and drug laws were allegedly violated.

The (Altoona) Mirror reports that defense attorney Richard Corcoran acknowledged receipt of the aggravating circumstances Friday and said he will be working on a defense.

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