Convicted murderer viewed images on Google Earth to target elderly victim's bungalow Read more: htt
A 33-year-old heroin user who murdered a churchgoing grandmother and plundered and torched her home in Britain used the Google Earth Web site to canvas the victim?s neighborhood in advance, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Steven Hodgson, 33, was convicted of murder and burglary and was told by the judge he?ll serve at least 34 years of a life sentence before he?ll even be considered for release.
He?d looked at aerial images on Google Earth that showed the bungalow where she lived, chose it as an "easy target," and entered through an open bathroom window last September. He lived just 10 miles away from Patricia Thompson, 85, who apparently put up quite a fight before being strangled and killed.
The victim, a mom of three and grandmother of six, had 20 bruises on her body, evidence that she?d struggled with Hodgson. Though his DNA was found under one of Thompson?s fingernails, Hodgson told the authorities it was because she?d "playfully ruffled" his hair after he?d cleaned her windows.
After forcing Thompson to give him her bank PIN number and murdering her, according to the court, Hodgson called a cab and left with two suitcases of her belongings. He went on a spending spree using Thompson?s bank card and had his girlfriend pawn the victim?s jewelry, including her wedding ring.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/worl...xzz0oV0ymu BE
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