Apr 16, 2008 5:55 pm US/Eastern
Woman Pleads Guilty In Murder Of Boyfriend
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) ―
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Cythia McKay plead guilty in the murder of Anthony Fertitta.
WJZ
Anthony Fertitta was stabbed to death and set on fire in 2006.
His girlfriend plead guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder.
As
Alex DeMetrick reports, Cynthia McKay took the plea bargain, ending the risk of a first-degree murder trial.
The body of Anthony Fertitta, 50, was found burning the night of Feb. 22, 2006 just steps away from his girlfriend's Millersville home.
McKay, 52, told police she knew nothing about his killing.
"She was seen on video buying gasoline at 2:50 a.m. The body was found on fire at 3:05," said Kathleen Rogers, Anne Arundel Assistant State's Attorney.
Fire has figured in McKay's life before. In 2002, her husband Clarence Downs died in their home, in what was ruled an accidental fire.
McKay already had a long criminal record for theft.
She was sent to prison shortly after Downs' death for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from St. Mary's Seminary.
When investigators found Fertitta had been stabbed to death, and found blood in McKay's home, she and her teenage son were charged.
"We're confident that she played a part in the killing. The killing occurred in her home. She indicated she was home that evening. She had cuts on her hand. We feel completely confident she committed the murder," Rogers said.
But prosecutors were not confident enough to pursue a first-degree murder charge, which opened the door for McKay to enter an Alford guilty plea to second-degree murder in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court.
Under an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but acknowledges the prosecution has enough evidence to obtain a conviction.
McKay's son, 21-year-old Christopher Haarhoff of Baltimore Highlands, has already been sentenced to five years for helping burn the body.
Cynthia McKay also entered an Alford guilty plea to theft from her last employer. That and the second-degree murder plea could bring a maximum sentence of 30 years. McKay's sentencing is scheduled for July 16.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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