Teen encouraged, demanded Pa. torture death

GREENSBURG, Pa. – A prosecutor says a western Pennsylvania teenager "instigated," ''encouraged" and — finally — "demanded" the torture murder of a 30-year-old mentally disabled woman the defendant viewed as a romantic rival.

Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck told the jury that they should find 18-year-old Angela Marinucci guilty of first- or second-degree murder, as well as kidnapping and conspiracy in the February 2010 death of 30-year-old Jennifer Daugherty.

Peck contends Marinucci was jealous because she and the victim were involved with the same man — 25-year-old Ricky Smyrnes — one of five other co-defendants set to stand trial later this year in Daugherty's death.

Marinucci testified she was no longer involved with Smyrnes when the killing occurred — but several witnesses, and a police detective who interviewed Marinucci — contend she believed she was pregnant by Smyrnes at the time.