A 24-year-old man is being held without bail on first degree murder, kidnapping and sexual assault charges in connection with the murder of his 9-year-old neighbor, Skyler Kauffman of Souderton, Pa. Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman says James Troutman was arrested last week after a detective noticed what appeared to be blood on Troutman's shoes.
"As we were searching for her, one of our detectives came across a man here who had what appeared to be blood on his shoes," said Vetri Ferman. "It was that sighting and discovery that led police to begin to question that individual." According to court documents, Troutman told detectives he used his hands to choke Skyler Kauffman to death in the basement of the apartment building at Second and Chestnut streets, in the suburban Philadelphia community. This photo released by The Montgomery County Office of the District Attorney on May 10, 2011, shows James Lee Troutman.
After he allegedly murdered her, court documents show he told police he put Skylar's body in a dumpster. Authorities say the girl's family reported her missing last Monday night after she didn't return home from playing with friends in the parking lot of her apartment complex. Souderton Police Chief James Leary says that during the investigation, police started interviewing a man who lives in that same apartment complex and gathered an overwhelming amount of physical evidence against the suspect.
Skyler and a friend allegedly used the bathroom in Troutman's apartment three weeks to the day before her death. According to court documents, Skyler and the friend became nervous when they saw pictures of naked women on the walls of the apartment. They also reported they had to unlock the door to get out, reports CBS affiliate KYW. Authorities have said the alleged incident did not rise to the level of criminal activity.
A 24-year-old man is being held without bail on first degree murder, kidnapping and sexual assault charges in connection with the murder of his 9-year-old neighbor, Skyler Kauffman of Souderton, Pa. Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman says James Troutman was arrested last week after a detective noticed what appeared to be blood on Troutman's shoes.
"As we were searching for her, one of our detectives came across a man here who had what appeared to be blood on his shoes," said Vetri Ferman. "It was that sighting and discovery that led police to begin to question that individual." According to court documents, Troutman told detectives he used his hands to choke Skyler Kauffman to death in the basement of the apartment building at Second and Chestnut streets, in the suburban Philadelphia community.
After he allegedly murdered her, court documents show he told police he put Skylar's body in a dumpster. Authorities say the girl's family reported her missing last Monday night after she didn't return home from playing with friends in the parking lot of her apartment complex. Souderton Police Chief James Leary says that during the investigation, police started interviewing a man who lives in that same apartment complex and gathered an overwhelming amount of physical evidence against the suspect.
Skyler and a friend allegedly used the bathroom in Troutman's apartment three weeks to the day before her death. According to court documents, Skyler and the friend became nervous when they saw pictures of naked women on the walls of the apartment. They also reported they had to unlock the door to get out, reports CBS affiliate KYW. Authorities have said the alleged incident did not rise to the level of criminal activity.
A 24-year-old man is being held without bail on first degree murder, kidnapping and sexual assault charges in connection with the murder of his 9-year-old neighbor, Skyler Kauffman of Souderton, Pa. Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman says James Troutman was arrested last week after a detective noticed what appeared to be blood on Troutman's shoes.