A state appellate court has denied David G. Ludwig’s latest request for relief, finding the convicted killer of a Warwick Township couple has filed too late.
Ludwig, now 29, is serving two consecutive life terms for fatally shooting Michael and Cathryn Borden in their home in November 2005 after they told Ludwig he could no longer see their 14-year-old daughter.
Ludwig, 18 at the time, drew a pistol as he was being shown the door to leave and shot both parents in the head.
He then fled with the daughter; the couple was found a day later in Indiana.
In Ludwig’s latest filing, he argues a number of alleged issues, including a request that he be treated as a juvenile killer serving life, pointing to a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that deemed life sentences for juvenile defendants “unconstitutional.”
Ludwig also points to “ineffective assistance” of this previous lawyer.
The Pennsylvania Superior Court recently denied the request, concurring with Lancaster County Judge David Ashworth who previously found the challenge to be untimely and without merit.
Assistant District Attorney Travis S. Anderson represented the Commonwealth.
In June 2006, Ludwig pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, statutory sexual assault, and related charges in exchange for a sentence of two consecutive life terms and a consecutive term of 9 ½ to 19 years in prison.
Judge Ashworth, in his denial of relief, addressed parts of Ludwig’s claims, finding that Ludwig is not due the same consideration as juveniles because he was 18 ½ at the time of the murders.
Ludwig, currently incarcerated in Luzerne County, will turn 30 in April.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright