Pennsylvania Daybook

The Latest: Mom says she's 'blessed' over son's release

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A man has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to 20 to 40 years in the shooting death of an eastern Pennsylvania convenience store owner more than a decade and a half ago. Forty-four-year-old John Edinger of Emmaus apologized Wednesday to the family of 59-year-old Adel Malek as he pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in Lehigh County Court. Edinger said "My intentions were never to hurt anyone like this. I struggled for 17 years with this." He began crying as he faced Malek's daughter while he was being taken back to jail. Police said the victim was found with multiple gunshot wounds inside his Apotheca Store in Allentown in July 1998. Authorities said Edinger told detectives that he fired after the store owner stabbed him in the leg.

Man gets 20 to 40 years in 1998 slaying of store owner