The judge called Jacob Sullivan a “coward” Thursday for requesting police protection in prison as she handed down the death penalty for the murder, rape and dismemberment of 14-year-old Grace Packer. “You have no soul. I have never said that to another human being,” said Judge Diane Gibbons. Sullivan’s girlfriend and Grace’s adoptive mother Sara Packer will be sentenced Friday…
What to Know
- A jury found that Jacob Sullivan should be put to death for the rape-murder fantasy killing of Grace Packer.
- Now Sullivan's lawyers are asking a judge to instead give him a life term instead.
- Pennsylvania has a moratorium on the death penalty, but juries can still impose the sentence.
A man sentenced to die for raping, strangling and dismembering his girlfriend's 14-year-old daughter has asked a judge to instead give him a life term.
Jacob Sullivan pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other offenses for killing Grace Packer in 2016 as part of a rape-murder fantasy he shared with the teen's mother. Jurors decided in March he should get the death penalty.
The jury deliberated over parts of three days before making its decision. Jurors told the judge during the deliberations that they were unable to agree, and Sullivan's lawyers argued Wednesday that the judge "forced" jurors to keep deliberating, sending the message that a life sentence "was unacceptable."
Pennsylvania has a moratorium on the death penalty, but juries can still impose the sentence.
Grace Packer's mother, Sara Packer, received a life sentence in a plea deal with prosecutors.
