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| Prosecutors to seek death penalty in corrections officer's slaying |
| By seattletimes |
| Published: 03/17/2011 |
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EVERETT — Snohomish County prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty against Byron Scherf, the prison inmate accused of strangling a female corrections officer at the Monroe Correctional Complex in January. Prosecuting Attorney Mark Roe made the announcement Tuesday morning, ending speculation that began last month when Scherf was charged with aggravated murder in connection with the slaying of 34-year-old Jayme Biendl in the prison's chapel. The only penalties possible for aggravated murder are death or life in prison without parole. Flanked by law-enforcement and county officials, Roe said he had met twice with Biendl's family and took into account their wish that the death penalty be sought. "It is something they feel is appropriate," Roe said "I am keenly aware of the gravity of this decision," Roe said at a news conference, noting that at the time of the slaying Scherf was serving a life sentence for rape. Scott Frakes, superintendent of the Monroe Correctional Complex, agreed with the decision, saying if there was ever a situation warranting the death penalty, "this is that situation." Scherf is scheduled to be arraigned at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in Snohomish County Superior Court. Biendl's death on Jan. 29 was the first time a corrections staff member at the Monroe prison had been killed and the first slaying of an officer in a state prison since 1979. The Granite Falls woman had been with the state Department of Corrections since 2002 and was named the prison's officer of the year in 2008. According to the probable-cause documents outlining the police case, Scherf told detectives that Biendl said something that offended him while they were in the prison chapel the night she was slain. Scherf said it "triggered a response in me." "I got to the point where I knew I was going to kill her," Scherf said in his statement to police. According to the probable-cause statement: Scherf, 52, said he waited for everyone to leave the prison chapel. He then came up from behind Biendl and started pulling at her radio, eventually breaking it. Scherf said the two fought. Biendl bit him and stomped on his foot before they wound up wrestling on the floor, the probable-cause statement said. Read More. |
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