Saturday, July 9, 2011

Durham, NC: Prosecutors seeking death penalty in NC sect case

By Associated Press
Saturday, July 9, 2011 - Added 7 hours ago

DURHAM, N.C. — Prosecutors want the death penalty for a Durham polygamist group member accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and a child.

District Attorney Tracey Cline said Friday 27-year-old Peter Lucas Moses shot 5-year-old Jadon Higganbothan because he thought the boy was gay.

Cline says Moses killed 28-year-old Antoinetta Yvonne McKoy because he feared she would tell police about the shooting and also because she wanted to leave their group.


Moses is charged with first-degree murder. Three women also are charged in connection with those deaths, including Jadon’s mother. Moses’ mother, brother and sister are charged in connection with McKoy’s death.

Investigators think some of those involved in the deaths were members of a religious sect known as the Black Hebrews, which believes it descends directly from the ancient tribes of Israel.

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