Defendant Seeks To Overturn Death Sentence in 2012 Montco Double Murder of Toddler and Grandmother
Rhagu Yandimuri was sentenced to death last year for killing ten-month-old Saanvi Venna and her grandmother in King of Prussia in 2012.
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Rhagu Yandimuri was sentenced to death last year for killing ten-month-old Saanvi Venna and her grandmother in King of Prussia in 2012.
After three and a half hours of deliberations, the seven men and five women delivered the death penalty to Raghu Yandamuri for the killings of Saanvi Venna and her grandmother.
The Upper Merion man was found guilty of murdering a grandmother and her infant granddaughter two years ago. He acted as his own attorney during the trial phase.
Raghu Yandamuri, who also killed the infant girl's grandmother, told the judge he doesn't want the hearing and will accept the death penalty.
A Montgomery County jury has found an Upper Merion man guilty of all charges including two counts of first degree murder for killing a ten-month-old girl and her grandmother during a botched kidnapping attempt nearly two years ago.
Prosecutors contend that Raghu Yandamuri, 28, tried to kidnap ten-month-old Saanvi Venna and hold her for ransom to pay off his gambling debts.
Several jurors in the trial of an Upper Merion man accused of murdering a ten-month-old girl and her grandmother were visibly shaken today when prosecutors showed one of their many crime scene photos.
"There was identification that was used that indicated that he was at the casino at least thirty times in the months preceding the murder," prosecutor Kevin Steele notes.
Rahgu Yandamuri is accused of murdering a 61-year-old woman and her ten-month-old granddaughter nearly two years ago during a botched robbery-kidnapping in King of Prussia.
It took nearly seven days and a pool of more than 180 potential jurors, but the defense and prosecution have finished picking a jury to hear the case against Raghu Yandamuri.
Jury selection is scheduled Tuesday in the trial of a suburban Philadelphia man accused of having killed a baby and her grandmother in a botched kidnapping plot.
Raghu Yandamuri, the defendant, asked for the continuance, telling the judge he needs more time to meet with his forensic pathologist, a DNA expert, and his investigator.
Raghu Yandamuri is facing the death penalty if he's convicted of first-degree murder in the deaths of little Saanvi Venna and her grandmother, but he still asked a judge to allow him to discharge his trial lawyer.
A Montgomery County judge has delivered a crucial defeat to a man accused of murdering a ten-month-old girl and her grandmother during what prosecutors say was a botched kidnapping in King of Prussia.
During Raghu Yandamuri's preliminary hearing, defense attorney Steve Heckman labeled a videotaped confession by his client "damaging." Heckman is now arguing to have that video kept away from a jury should the case go to trial.
The lawsuit names the owners of the Marquis Apartment Complex in Upper Merion, the property management company, its security firm, and the man accused of killing ten-month-old Saanvi Venna and her grandmother.
Raghu Yandamuri has sent a number of communications to his attorneys, the judge, and even the district attorney's office. But the judge says the two motions filed earlier this week are the most serious.
A Montgomery County judge has delayed the start of a trial for a King of Prussia, Pa. man accused of murdering an infant and her grandmother in their Upper Merion apartment last year in what prosecutors say was a planned kidnapping gone wrong.
One by one, prosecutors read the charges against Raghu Yandamuri during his formal arraignment. And one by one, his attorney answered, "Not guilty."
The search for a missing infant from a King of Prussia apartment in late October captivated the Philadelphia region, but hope turned to sadness when the baby's body was found several days later.
In a 20-minute videotaped confession to police, Raghu Yandamuri says he planned to kidnap Saanvi Venna to get money from her parents.
The Upper Merion man accused of murdering a 10-month old girl and her grandmother in a failed abduction attempt last month is scheduled for a court appearance in Montgomery County this morning.
A 61-year-old Indian woman found slain in a suburban Philadelphia apartment where she was babysitting her granddaughter while visiting her family died of cuts to her neck and chest, a coroner said Thursday. The 10-month old girl remains missing.
Saanvi has been missing since Monday. Authorities believe she was abducted from her home in the Marquis Apartments in King of Prussia where her grandmother was found dead.
The search continues for Saanvi Venna. The 10-month-old has been missing since Monday, when her grandmother was killed and the infant was taken from an apartment in King of Prussia. Hundreds gathered on Wednesday night, praying for her safe return during a candlelight vigil.
A new historic marker has designated Timbuctoo as one of only about eight recognized Black historic sites in South Jersey.
After 20 years of planning and six years of construction, a reimagined Ardmore train station is back open.
Two pilots were killed and dozens of people injured at New York's LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night when an arriving Air Canada Express plane and fire and rescue vehicle collided, authorities said.
Monday in the Philadelphia region started milder with a few early showers, but things are drying out pretty quickly from west to east.
The Trump administration has called the floundering American shipbuilding industry an economic and national security crisis. Getting help from overseas may be one way to save the domestic industry.
President Trump says ICE agents will be sent to airports amid a partial government shutdown, but it's unclear if they'll be at Philadelphia International Airport.
A new historic marker has designated Timbuctoo as one of only about eight recognized Black historic sites in South Jersey.
After 20 years of planning and six years of construction, a reimagined Ardmore train station is back open.
Two pilots were killed and dozens of people injured at New York's LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night when an arriving Air Canada Express plane and fire and rescue vehicle collided, authorities said.
Monday in the Philadelphia region started milder with a few early showers, but things are drying out pretty quickly from west to east.
After 20 years of planning and six years of construction, a reimagined Ardmore train station is back open.
A crash on the Center Valley Parkway in Upper Saucon Township left a Bethlehem man dead and three other people injured, according to police.
Three people, including a pedestrian, were injured in a crash in Northeast Philadelphia when a driver suffered a medical emergency Saturday afternoon, police said.
A teenager is recovering after being shot on Rodney Street in Philadelphia, police say.
Philadelphia Police are investigating a shooting on the 1900 block of South 21st Street Sunday that left one man dead and a woman hospitalized.
A new historic marker has designated Timbuctoo as one of only about eight recognized Black historic sites in South Jersey.
Princeton women's basketball, the last Philadelphia-area team in the NCAA Tournament, falls to Oklahoma State in the first round.
A fire on a residential block in Camden, New Jersey, could be seen from Philadelphia.
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Gov. Mikie Sherrill accused ICE of ignoring the concerns of Roxbury residents after it bought the vacant warehouse on Route 46.
A 17-year-old is in custody and another person is wanted by police in connection with an armed robbery outside the Christiana Mall in Newark, Delaware.
Three people died in a car crash involving a drunk driver early Saturday morning in Wilmington, Delaware, police say.
An EF-1 tornado touched down in Kent County, Delaware, Monday night as severe storms hit the Philadelphia region, the National Weather Service said Tuesday.
Thousands of people spent the night without electricity around the Philadelphia area after Monday's storms.
With the region under a tornado watch through 7 p.m., several school districts have announced closings and early dismissals.
The Philadelphia Phillies play regular-season baseball next week. Before then: a race around Citizens Bank Park.
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The Franklin Mall in Northeast Philadelphia is set to reopen Friday after being because of a fire, a spokesperson said.
The Franklin Mall in Northeast Philadelphia is closed until further notice following a fire, a mall security official said.
Move over, Wawa, "there's a new player in town." Customers shed light on Pennsylvania's heated rivalry as Sheetz opened its first store in Montgomery County.
Former Sheetz president and CEO Steve Sheetz has died at age 77, the Altoona-based company announced on Monday.
The post-Christmas return rush was underway at shops and malls across the Philadelphia area.
After 20 years of planning and six years of construction, a reimagined Ardmore train station is back open.
Route 73 is back open in Marlton after a fatal crash closed the road for several hours Friday morning.
The Walt Whitman Bridge is back open Wednesday after it was closed in both directions Tuesday night because of police activity.
Additional security checkpoints at PHL are closed as a partial government shutdown affecting TSA drags on.
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VJ Edgecombe had 22 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 126-116 victory over the Utah Jazz.
Princeton women's basketball, the last Philadelphia-area team in the NCAA Tournament, falls to Oklahoma State in the first round.
Christian Dvorak scored a tiebreaking goal early in the third period and added an assist, Dan Vladar made 24 saves and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the San Jose Sharks 4-1 to complete a three-game West Coast sweep.
DraftKings pushed back on the accusation, saying in a statement that it is not engaging in trademark infringement.
Chuck Norris' family said his death at 86 was sudden, but did not share any details on the cause.
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Michael B. Jordan's best actor win at Sunday night's Academy Awards resonated at his alma mater, Arts High School in Newark.
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Ukee Washington reports.
Natasha Brown reports.
Natasha Brown reports.
Natasha Brown reports.
Ukee Washington reports.
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Josh Sanders has your morning digital Brief for Monday, March 23, 2026 and meteorologist Kate Bilo has the latest forecast in the Philadelphia area.
SEPTA's Ardmore station has reopened after being closed for six years for construction. Ray Strickland has more on the renovations made to the station.
Pockets of rain on Monday will cause a slow morning commute, but meteorologist Kate Bilo says it will be a cooler and windy day after the rain clears.
On this week's Spreading the Love, we're heading back to a small, but historic community in Burlington County, New Jersey. It's called Timbuctoo; it's just 52 acres, but it holds an important piece of Black history in South Jersey. Wakisha Bailey has more on how a new historic marker is helping preserve that story.
Two pilots were killed at LaGuardia Airport in New York after a collision on the runway. Josh Sanders has the latest from the Pulse Desk.