Lancaster County man pleads guilty to murder of Linda Stoltzfoos
Prosecutors said they entered a plea deal with Justo Smoker because they believe they never would have found her body without his help.
Prosecutors said they entered a plea deal with Justo Smoker because they believe they never would have found her body without his help.
From almost the beginning, searchers knew something was very wrong on Monday, June 22 of last year.
Horse-drawn buggies and a handful of vans and sport utility vehicles brought more than 100 people together Monday afternoon at the Myers Cemetery burial grounds, not far from where police say 18-year-old Linda Stoltzfoos was abducted.
The Lancaster County DA says the remains appear to be those of a female of the same age as 18-year-old Linda Stoltzfoos, and were buried with a dress, bonnet and shoes like those Stoltzfoos wore the day she disappeared.
Stoltzfoos was last seen walking home from church in the Bird-in-Hand area, and prosecutors noted that Wednesday marked exactly 10 months since she disappeared.
A Lancaster County judge ruled Friday that prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence for the trial of 34-year-old Justo Smoker of Paradise in the disappearance of 18-year-old Linda Stoltzfoos, who was last seen walking home from church June 21 in the Bird-in-Hand area.