LANCASTER, PA. — A Lancaster teenager admitted Monday to breaking into a local teacher’s city home in 2014 then robbing and killing her.
Marcus Rutter, a 17-year-old charged as an adult due to the nature of the crimes, pleaded guilty in Lancaster County Court to first-degree murder and related counts regarding the December 15, 2014, killing of Nicole Mathewson.
In all, Rutter pleaded guilty to:
– First-degree murder
– Conspiracy to first-degree murder
– Burglary
– Robbery
– Receiving Stolen Property
– Access device fraud
Lancaster County Judge David Ashworth asked Rutter a series of questions before accepting Rutter’s pleas to the six felony counts.
Judge Ashworth will order sentence on July 29.
First Assistant District Attorney Christopher P. Larsen and Assistant District Attorney Christopher Lechner recited the basis for the charges in court.
Nicole Mathewson, a 32-year-old teacher at Brownstown Elementary School, was slain in the middle of the night inside 701 North Franklin St.
Mathewson was beaten to death inside the house. Her debit card, vehicle and other items were stolen.
Police learned that Rutter had some of the stolen items and that a withdrawal was made from Mathewson’s account soon after the break-in, according to charging documents.
Thomas Moore, a co-defendant in the case, pleaded guilty in February, and is serving a sentence of life in prison, plus 20 years.
Lancaster city police Detective Jimmy Mummau filed charges.
Source: Lancaster County District Attorney
