Death Penalty for Killing Church Lady Who Brought Food Upheld

The death penalty imposed against a defendant who lured a church volunteer to his house under the guise of needing food for his family and then raped, robbed, and killed her, was upheld by the Ninth Circuit Monday.

In February 1998, John Sansing wanted money to buy more crack cocaine, so he called a local church asking for someone to bring his family food. When Trudy Calabrese arrived with food, Sansing threw her to the floor, tied her up, gagged her so she’d stop pleading not to be killed, hit her in the head with a wooden club, raped her, ...