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By KES Prarmat and TOM KELDINER CHAMBERSBURG . President Judge George Eppinger said. this morning after a brief degree of guill hearing that Richard Lee Dodson 31 Greencastle may be guills of first degree murder 1 the Kidnap. rape death of Debra Sue Kline After about 30 minutes of testimony and a recess Judge Eppinger quoted from the State Rules of Court and told those present that he would arrange for [han other judges to sit with him on panel, to hear evidence und etermine if Dodson is guilt, of first degree murder Under the rules of court Someone accused of murder plead g guilty and there sexdence that he ight be guilty of first degree murder” three judges must uunanimously find him guilty T a defendant who has pleaded guilty to murder is found guilty of first degree murder the three judges then determine his son ‘A majority of the three judges an also find the defendant guilty of another degree of murder of ‘manslaughter At the beginning of the 999 am hearing today Dodsons Public Defender Attorney Blake Marvin and Assistant District Attorney William Cramer gave Judge Eppinger the text of 2 statement Dodson gave state police and Cramer Feb 2 at the counts prison Cramer two state police criminal investigators Assistant Public Defender FE Franklin Martin and 3 court reporter were present at the time the statement ‘was given “The document is at least pages long and contains other evence in addition to the statement .The one witness who testified at the hearing this morning. is Laurence H Tallent who said that Dodson had told him of the kid naping rape and murder of Deborah Kline Feb 22 while the two of them were in the maximum security section of the county prison .Tallent was returned to Franklin County from Dallas State Prison where he is serving a sentence for escape .He was one of three county prison inmates who escaped while They were being taken to court May wise Tallent said he asked Dodson what happened with Debbie Sue Kline? “while the 40 of them were playing cards in the maximum security area day room about 530, to7 30pm Tallent said Dodson had told him that _he and Henninger were sarving “around Waynesboro shinking, when they saw the girl They ad driven around the Waynesboro Hospital looking for someone Tallent said Henninger said “Ah there she is “then he spotted the girl Dodson asked Who” and Henninger answered Debbie Sue enninger asked How would you like to have some of that” and Dodson responded Yea that's preite mice stuff ‘Dodson told Tallent that at an intersection Dodson got out of Henningers car with Henninger = Ke and got into Kline car then later took Kline ino. Henninger ‘at knife point ‘After the two men raped her faith knife at her throat Hen ninger told. Dodson T think we Should git rid of her so she doesnt tell police Tallent sad Dodson. tole har Dodson disagreed but Henninger said they could go to ail Wr a fine if Kline went to the police one began working amas from the area where the two men had parked Dodson west around one side of the car and Hennnger went round the other to geach her Tallent said he was told ‘fer that so fast he ‘shat happened Tallent said he was told Henninger cut her throat she tumbled toward Dodson and Henninger said dont get any blood on you Public Defender Blaxe startin c entered no evidence at the hearing ‘in behalf of Dodson He told Judge Eppinger however” that the prosecutor had entered no evidence to prove that Dodson ‘was guilty of anything more than third-degree murder ‘There was evidence that Dodson was guilty of first-degree murder since there was no liberate willful” action, on his art “he had not intended to end the life of the victim There was no. Corresponding and shared criminal intent 90 ‘Common understanding on the part for Dodson and Henninger Martin Saud Martin alo said there was no covidence that Dodson was guilty of Secondegree murder There was a _break on the chain ‘presents between the murder and the kidnaping and rape he so Marin argued that Dodson was in ‘profound fear of Mr Henninger ‘This prevented the defendant Dodson’ from taking’ ant. af firmative steps to prevent the murder Martin said Dodson knew that Henninger had killed in the past How knes it was 9. contract murder and that Henninger had been a hit man He had to go along He was trends involved in a crime He was in fear for hs own lite Martin said verything happened so quickly Mr’ Dodson ‘didn t know. ‘What was happening Debbies throat was cut before Rich Dodson knew what was hap pening” Martin said. “It was all Mr Henninger Martin said Assistant. District Attorney Cramer argued that there was evidence to support a finding of Second-degree murder .The kidnaping had not ceased Debbie was stil in a place of salution he said The Fape had not ceased Cramer also outlined three points which indicated that Dodson ‘was guilt of first-degree murder Dodson and Henninger had scussed the murder before Henninger killed her Henninger ran around one side ‘of the car and Dodson ran around the ther boxing her in and preventing her from reaching the road a place of relative safety.” Dodson pushed Debbie back cared
Newspaper Details
Waynesboro Record Herald
Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, US
Fri, Jun 17, 1977
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Debra R.
USA 10 Jun 2026
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