Grand jury to hear case against Michael Purnell
Story Location:
georgetown, DE
United States
Evidence against accused murderer Michael Purnell will be presented to a grand jury.
At a preliminary hearing Nov. 23, Judge Rosemary Beauregard ruled probable cause exists that Purnell strangled Dorothy Gudger, 70, with a belt while raping her on Halloween night.
Purnell, a towering 43-year-old bearded man, did not speak but sat in the courtroom next to his defense attorney, Stephanie Tsantes. Delaware State Police Det. William Porter was the only witness called to the stand.
Porter testified he was called to Gudger’s home on Barkantine Drive in the River Village community in Oak Orchard Nov. 2. He said he found Gudger lying on her back in the living room of her home; her body was covered by an afghan, and a plastic bag was covering her face.
After removing the afghan, Porter saw Gudger was naked, and her pants were pulled down around her ankles. “She had some bruising around her neck area,” he said.
On a chair next to Gudger’s body lay a pair of underwear, socks, shoes and a belt.
Neighbors said Purnell had raked leaves for the victim, Porter said. Porter found Purnell at his home - a few blocks from Gudger’s home in the same community - and said he took Purnell to State Police Troop 4 in Georgetown for questioning.
Porter said when he interviewed Purnell, the defendant told Porter he went to Gudger’s home intending to rape her; as he did so, he strangled her with a belt. Purnell said she was telling him to stop, Porter said.
Afterward, Purnell told Porter he placed a plastic bag over Gudger’s head. “Just in case she wasn’t deceased, he thought it would smother her,” Porter said. Purnell made an attempt to put Gudger’s pants back on her body, but stopped and covered her with an afghan instead. Purnell locked the door to Gudger’s home on his way out, Porter said.
An autopsy confirmed Gudger had been raped, and she died of strangulation and asphyxiation, Porter said.
Porter also testified he has audio and video footage of Purnell’s confession at Troop 4.
There is no physical evidence linking Purnell to the rape and murder of Gudger, Tsantes noted during cross-examination.
Porter said police took items from Purnell’s home, including a pair of work boots, a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. He said the state would most likely have DNA evidence against Purnell when detectives receive test results. “We’re waiting,” he said.
