Federal officials have decided not to pursue a death penalty case against David Renz for last year's murder of a woman and rape of a child. Renz pled guilty to killing Lori Bresnahan and assaulting the young girl. U-S Attorney Richard Hartunian in a release says,
"The mandatory life sentence in state court and the imposition of an additional 30 year federal consecutive sentence will insure that David Renz can do no further harm."
Hartunian adds that the victims' families and the defense attorneys were contacted as part of the process of making the determination to pursue any federal prosecution that could have led to the death penalty.
"No sentence that could ever be imposed in this case will undo the tragic death of Lori Bresnahan or the pain inflicted on the young victim, or adequately account for the depravity of the crimes committed."
Renz was supposed to be under home detention at the time of the rape and murder, but slipped out of a monitoring ankle bracelet. He started the attack on Bresnahan and the child in the parking lot of Great Northern Mall. His arrest came after a police officer saw him jogging down the street near where the crimes occurred.
