Girl, Slaying Suspect Had 'Secret, Intimate Relationship'

ByABC News via logo
November 15, 2005, 2:52 PM

Nov. 15, 2005— -- The Pennsylvania teen accused of killing his 14-year-old girlfriend's parents had a "secret, intimate relationship of a sexual nature," with the girl, a friend of the teen told police, according to court documents obtained by ABC News.

Samuel Peter Lohr -- a close friend of the suspect, 18-year-old David Ludwig -- was interviewed by Warwick Township police on Monday, according to an affidavit for probable cause. Lohr told police that Ludwig and Kara Borden often exchanged flirtatious messages via computer instant messenging programs, and also shared intimate images of one another using the Internet and cell phone cameras.

Police confiscated a computer from Ludwig's home and another from Lohr, which Lohr said he was borrowing to download music.

Ludwig is accused of killing Borden's parents on Sunday evening and fleeing the scene of the crime with the girl.

Katelyn Borden, 13, told police Kara and Ludwig's relationship may have been the source of an argument between Ludwig and her parents on Sunday evening.

According to the affidavit, Katelyn witnessed Ludwig point a handgun toward her father and pull the trigger, killing Michael Borden, in the doorway of the family's home near Lititz, Pa., about 60 miles west of Philadelphia.

As her father's body fell to the floor, Katelyn told authorities she ran to hide in a bathroom, where she heard another gunshot -- presumably the one that killed her mother, Cathryn Lee.

Both Michael and Cathryn Lee were 50. They leave behind five children -- James, 24, Justin, 21, Kara, Katelyn and David, 11.

Katelyn told police she heard Ludwig screaming for Kara as she hid in the bathroom. Then there was silence.

Katelyn ran to a neighbor's home, unsure if Ludwig was still in her house, according to the affidavit. Her brother, David, had already called 911 from a neighbor's house and told the dispatcher that his father was shot and dead.

While searching Ludwig's home, police saw gun shell casings in the upper floor of the house, as well as a number of firearms located in the lower level of the house, according to the affidavit.

Ludwig and Kara were taken into police custody in Indiana on Monday night after Ludwig crashed his Volkswagen Jetta into a tree while trying to outrun police. Ludwig was being taken by authorities to Pennsylvania this afternoon.

Kara's family gathered together after the incident.

"They're worried sick about Kara," said Kellymarie Conlon, 24, a family friend of the Bordens. "They are all together in Pennsylvania. They are all doing fine, trying to keep themselves together as a family as best they can. They are devastated, and they will step forward and speak to the media when they feel it is appropriate."