Support our Sister

Elizabeth Township girl charged in dad's killing

Police are silent, but neighbors say teen was victim of sexual, physical abuse for several years

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

By Torsten Ove and Jim McKinnon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A 13-year-old girl fatally shot her father in the face with a shotgun early yesterday morning as he slept in their Elizabeth Township home, according to police.

Rachel Booth was held without bond last night in the Allegheny County Jail, charged as an adult with homicide in the death of Matthew J. Booth, 34. She faces a preliminary hearing Friday.

In an affidavit supporting the arrest, Allegheny County police did not reveal a motive.

Detectives said only that the girl acknowledged that she killed Mr. Booth with his 12-gauge shotgun at 2:21 a.m. on the first floor of 5802 Pitt St., where Mr. Booth lived with the girl and her 14-year-old brother, Matthew Booth Jr.

But a close neighbor said the girl told her that Mr. Booth had sexually and physically abused her since she was 7. [there's more, but you should just look it up]

Well let me be the first to say that this type of self-defense is a trend I'd like to see pick up. Of course they want to charge her as an adult for homocide because we can't have the children defending themselves like that (never mind that it was HIS gun). But if this scares at least one abuser, then that's awesome, and of course that guy will not be hurting anyone anymore. I'm sure a lot of people will be shocked, but I wonder why it doesn't happen more often. Hey, at least she killed her abuser and nota bunch of schoolmates. For that she gets the Aileen Wuornos award for environmental clean up.

If there's anything I can do. I stand ready with the Girl Scouts to help a sister in need.

Sincerely,

Ethel