A Quarryville man charged with killing an East Drumore girl and her mother will face the death penalty at trial.
A Lancaster County prosecutor Thursday filed a notice of intent to seek a death sentence against Leeton Thomas regarding the June 11, 2015, killings on Spring Valley Road.
Lisa Scheetz, 44, and her 16-year-old daughter were killed during the home-invasion attack, and Scheetz’s other daughter was critically injured.
The girls were victims in a separate sex-assault case Thomas was charged in previously. Thomas, 38, was out on bail in that case at the time of the fatal stabbings.
Lancaster County Assistant District Attorney Christine Wilson, in the filing, outlines five aggravating factors that make the case death-penalty eligible.
They are:
- The victims were killed to prevent them from testifying in the sex-assault case.
- The killings happened during the course of a felony (burglary).
- Thomas created a grave risk of danger to another person (the sister who survived).
- Thomas is charged with multiple counts of homicide.
- Thomas broke a no-contact order in place regarding the victims.
Thomas is at Lancaster County Prison, without bail, on charges of homicide (two counts), attempted homicide, and burglary.
Wilson and First Assistant District Attorney Christopher Larsen are prosecuting the case.
Thomas is presumed innocent.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us