Prosecutors have decided against seeking the death penalty against a man accused of killing his girlfriend, stuffing her body into a recycling bin and later shooting at a police officer investigating her murder.
The Lehigh County district attorney's office announced the decision Monday at the arraignment of 62-year-old Walter Bratvold, who is charged with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, attempted homicide and 10 counts aggravated assault.
First Assistant District Attorney Steven Luksa cited a lack of aggravated factors needed to seek capital punishment.
Bratvold is charged in the death of 59-year-old Rose Sieniawski, whose decomposing body was found Feb. 14 in a recycling bin at an Allentown apartment complex, and in a Feb. 16 exchange of gunfire with Allentown officers in which he and a detective were wounded.
