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Train was speeding 50 mph over limit before deadly wreck

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Celtic Woman to perform at F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre March 25

<p>A Plains Township woman who avoided a capital murder trial by pleading guilty to killing a pregnant woman more than 10 years ago has been denied a second look at her sentence.</p><p>The state Superior Court on Monday denied an appeal filed by Patricia Leigh Stark, 35, who was sentenced to life in prison in December 2006.</p><p>Stark argued she should have been considered a juvenile at the time due to lack of brain development.</p><p>State Police at Wyoming charged Stark with the shooting death of Cari L. Chapman, 22, and injuring Thomas M. Ohop Jr., then 18, along Eighth Street in Franklin Township on July 31, 2006.</p><p>An autopsy showed Chapman was shot twice in the abdomen and once in the chest. She was less than 16 weeks pregnant and her death and the death of her unborn child were ruled homicides by the Luzerne County Coroner&#8217;s Office.</p><p>Ohop was shot in the left shoulder and abdomen. He survived his injuries.</p><p>An investigation determined Stark used a .45-caliber firearm in the shooting.</p><p>Stark filed a post-conviction relief petition challenging her life term.</p><p>According to Stark&#8217;s petition, she claimed her life sentence is illegal due to a 2012 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that ruled mandatory sentences of life without parole are unconstitutional for juvenile offenders. Stark claimed despite being 23 when she killed Chapman, she should have been considered a juvenile due to &#8220;immature brain development.&#8221;</p><p>In a nine-page ruling by three members of the state Superior Court issued Monday, the appellate court denied Stark&#8217;s appeal for relief, rejecting her request to consider her brain development. The appellant court further ruled Stark&#8217;s petition for relief was untimely filed.</p><p>Stark was scheduled to be formally arraigned in Luzerne County Court on Dec. 23, 2006, when she pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, homicide of an unborn child, attempted homicide, aggravated assault and robbery.</p><p>Attorney William Ruzzo, who represented Stark in 2006, said Stark pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Court won’t reconsider life term for Plains resident who killed pregnant woman