SOMERSET, Pa. (AP) - A western Pennsylvania man has pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree murder in the deaths of his pregnant girlfriend and her unborn child last year.
Twenty-six-year-old Denver Blough entered the plea Wednesday in Somerset County Court in the May 2014 shooting death of 23-year-old Caressa Kovalcik, who was 8½ months pregnant. Officials said the child, a girl, was delivered but died three weeks later.
Authorities said Blough said his 20-gauge shotgun accidentally discharged in the victim’s face after he broke it in half during an argument. He also pleaded guilty to recklessly endangering the couple’s 11-month-old son, who was six feet away.
Prosecutors had said they planned to seek the death penalty, and defense attorney Kenneth Sottile said his client believed that the plea was in his best interests.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.