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.
Watch CBS News
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.
Spectacular start to the work week with low humidity, bright sunshine, and comfortable highs in the low 80's.
For some South Jersey residents, their next Amazon haul may arrive from the sky as the delivery giant plans to begin drone deliveries in mid-October.
After more than two decades, Women's professional tennis returns to the city with the sold out Ennoble Care Philly Open.
Kyle Schwarber's MLB-leading 39th homer of the season was a two-run moonshot to lift Phillies from a four-run deficit and beat the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday.
La Catrachita's location on Columbus Boulevard in South Philly was damaged after a late-night crash. No one was hurt.
Spectacular start to the work week with low humidity, bright sunshine, and comfortable highs in the low 80's.
For some South Jersey residents, their next Amazon haul may arrive from the sky as the delivery giant plans to begin drone deliveries in mid-October.
After more than two decades, Women's professional tennis returns to the city with the sold out Ennoble Care Philly Open.
Kyle Schwarber's MLB-leading 39th homer of the season was a two-run moonshot to lift Phillies from a four-run deficit and beat the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday.
La Catrachita's location on Columbus Boulevard in South Philly was damaged after a late-night crash. No one was hurt.
Spectacular start to the work week with low humidity, bright sunshine, and comfortable highs in the low 80's.
After more than two decades, Women's professional tennis returns to the city with the sold out Ennoble Care Philly Open.
La Catrachita's location on Columbus Boulevard in South Philly was damaged after a late-night crash. No one was hurt.
Now that a round of morning storms has moved out, it will be mostly sunny, and the humidity will slowly fall.
Kensington High School students will start the school year at a temporary Northeast Philadelphia location after asbestos concerns forced the school to relocate from its usual building.
Spectacular start to the work week with low humidity, bright sunshine, and comfortable highs in the low 80's.
For some South Jersey residents, their next Amazon haul may arrive from the sky as the delivery giant plans to begin drone deliveries in mid-October.
Now that a round of morning storms has moved out, it will be mostly sunny, and the humidity will slowly fall.
Two people were killed in a head-on crash involving a stolen vehicle in Mays Landing, New Jersey, officials said.
The Philadelphia area can expect rain on Saturday, but nicer weather is on the way next week.
Spectacular start to the work week with low humidity, bright sunshine, and comfortable highs in the low 80's.
Now that a round of morning storms has moved out, it will be mostly sunny, and the humidity will slowly fall.
The Philadelphia area can expect rain on Saturday, but nicer weather is on the way next week.
Crews are clearing debris and assessing damage after a powerful tornado ripped through Dover, Delaware, Thursday evening.
After a Thursday filled with severe storms, flooding rain and tornado warnings, Friday will be a nice end to the workweek.
Parents should start preparing their children now to adjust to a school schedule, according to one sleep expert.
A Chester County teenager is getting ready to go back to school after recovering from a special kind of brain surgery.
An experimental treatment being tested in Philadelphia could offer new hope for people with ALS.
History is the backbone of a new back-to-school vaccine campaign in Camden, N.J., launched by Grandparents for Vaccines.
In 2012, Emily Whitehead was the first pediatric patient to get a breakthrough cancer treatment that saved her life and is now helping others.
New Jersey floral designer Alisha Simone Bell said she puts her "whole heart" into every arrangement and every detail.
On Tuesday, Pennsylvania took a major step in the fight against the negative impacts of social media, particularly on children.
Thieves are smashing windows and targeting trading card stores looking for valuable Pokémon cards, police in South Jersey say.
Customers lined up to support Somerdale Cold Cuts as it reopened after a copper theft.
While some assume landlords are required to provide air conditioning, the law is not nearly as clear-cut as it is for heat in the winter
Beginning Sunday, several bus routes in Philadelphia are changing, including the addition of two new routes.
A deadly crash in Warminster is under investigation Sunday, police said.
PennDOT is advising drivers about an overnight closure on the Schuylkill Expressway westbound in West Philadelphia between 30th Street and the interchange with I-676 East.
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating two crashes, one of which was fatal, that happened hours apart on I-95 and I-76 in Philadelphia.
An overturned tractor trailer blocked traffic on the southbound lanes of Route 55 after a crash early Monday morning in Gloucester County, New Jersey.
Kyle Schwarber's MLB-leading 39th homer of the season was a two-run moonshot to lift Phillies from a four-run deficit and beat the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday.
Patriots' backup quarterback Tommy DeVito tossed a 69-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Williams and New England beat Philadelphia 24-21 in a preseason game.
West Chester's East Side Little League team lost its first game in Williamsport but will get another chance to play.
Alec Bohm tripled in the 10th inning, driving in two runs as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals Friday night.
East Side Little League of West Chester is the latest team from the Philadelphia region to make the Little League Baseball World Series.
Hayden Panettiere, who starred in "Remember the Titans" as a child actor and rose to fame in the series "Heroes," has died at the age of 36. The coroner's office says she was found in cardiac arrest.
Emily Mello is joining Mural Arts Philadelphia and will replace Jane Golden, who is leaving after more than 40 years with the organization.
The Philadelphia theater program created for Black girls returns with an original production exploring identity, immigration and the stories often left untold.
Vincent Pastore played Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on all six seasons of "The Sopranos," which aired from 1999 to 2007.
The Regal movie theater in King of Prussia said its IMAX 70mm projector is working again after an outage that affected screenings of "The Odyssey."
Ukee Washington reports.
Natasha Brown reports.
Natasha Brown reports.
Natasha Brown reports.
Ukee Washington reports.
Middle school students in Philadelphia got the opportunity to do hands-on learning during the school district's five-day career and technical camp.
With her Girl Talk mentoring program, one Philadelphia teen turned her camp days into a safe space to discuss social issues young girls face every day.
Recent high school graduate Sylvain Farrell says his temporary position at a local clinic is the pathway to a full-time career.
A Philadelphia student won an award from NFL Films for his documentary on bringing back sports teams at his Kensington school.
A group of East Norriton eighth graders took what started as an Earth Day project and made a whole initiative.
Monday is perfect for all outdoor activities. Skies will be mostly sunny and humidity levels low for this time of year. Bill Kelly has the forecast.
A South Philadelphia taqueria is already back open after a driver crashed through the front of the restaurant early Saturday morning.
For some South Jersey residents, their next Amazon haul may arrive from the sky as the delivery giant plans to begin drone deliveries in mid-October.
Two people were killed in a head-on crash involving a stolen vehicle in Mays Landing, New Jersey, Saturday morning. Alicia Roberts reports.
The evening will be quite nice too with clear skies and temperatures in the 70’s. Bill Kelly has the forecast.