Prosecutors in central Pennsylvania have decided against seeking the death penalty against a woman charged in the shooting death of her elderly mother last month.
The (Altoona) Mirror reports that Blair County District Attorney Richard Consiglio said Friday that prosecutors will not attempt to prove aggravating circumstances required for execution in the case.
Forty-eight-year-old Tracy Stephenson is charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault and a firearms count in the Nov. 19 death of Barbara Elias in Altoona.
A detective testified that following her arrest, Stephenson accused her mother of poisoning her and harassing her.
Assistant Public Defender Jason Imler said after the hearing that his client's mental condition would "be a major part of the case."
