Feds reviewing Pa. torture death of mentally disabled woman as possible hate crime case

Feds: Pa. torture death might be hate crime

GREENSBURG, Pa. — Pittsburgh’s federal prosecutor is reviewing the torture murder of a mentally disabled woman under a new federal law banning hate crimes against people with disabilities.

Acting U.S. Attorney Robert Cessar (SES’-ar) says Tuesday it’s too early to tell if his office will file charges against any or all of the six suspects under the new law, which was signed by President Obama in October.

The suspects face homicide and other charges in state court in last week’s death of 30-year-old Jennifer Daugherty. Her body was found in a trash can in Greensburg, about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh.

Cessar says he needs to do more research to determine whether his office may file an extra charge against the suspects or bring the entire case into federal court.