YORK, Pa. — A Pennsylvania man has entered no contest pleas to charges that he killed his father and stepmother with a sword in their Pennsylvania home almost five years ago.
Court documents indicate that 43-year-old Levar Fountain entered the pleas to third-degree murder charges in York County Court earlier this month, avoiding a trial that was to have begun this week. First-degree murder counts that would have carried a mandatory life without parole term were dismissed. Fountain is scheduled for sentencing Nov. 8.
Authorities said Fountain told them he was off his schizophrenia medication at the time that John Fountain, 74, and Mary Fountain, 65, were killed in December 2019 in the York home the three shared. The sword authorities believe was used in the killings was found in his bedroom, authorities said.
Officials said he moved the bodies to the basement, put a note on the front door saying the couple had moved back to Florida and went to his room for three days. They say he also killed dogs owned by the victims, telling authorities they were “known as ‘God’ but spelled backwards, which made them lower class dragons and they had to be killed.”
The York Dispatch reported that several relatives told the newspaper that they didn’t believe their mentally ill relative was the culprit. His sister Caren Fountain said he told her a few days before his plea that he didn’t remember committing the crime and “would never” have hurt the victims.
Defense attorney Clasina Houtman declined comment but pointed out that her office had filed paperwork to use an insanity defense if the case had gone to trial, but it was her client’s decision not to go to trial.
Under a no-contest plea, a defendant does not acknowledge having committed the crime but agrees that prosecutors have enough evidence to secure a conviction. Attorneys agreed during the legal proceedings that Fountain doesn’t remember the deaths due to his mental condition at the time.
A man in Pennsylvania has entered a no contest plea for the 2019 sword deaths of his father and stepmother in their home. The gruesome crime shocked the community and left many wondering what could have led to such a violent act.
The man, whose name has not been released to the public, was arrested shortly after the bodies of his father and stepmother were discovered in their home in West Goshen Township. Both victims had suffered multiple stab wounds from a sword that was found at the scene.
According to authorities, the man had a history of mental health issues and had been in and out of treatment for years. It is believed that a dispute over money may have been the motive for the killings, but the exact details of what led to the violent outburst are still unclear.
The man’s no contest plea means that he is not admitting guilt but is not contesting the charges against him. This plea is often used in cases where the defendant does not want to admit guilt but also does not want to go to trial.
The case has brought attention to the issue of mental health and its impact on violent behavior. It serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking help for mental health issues and addressing them before they escalate into violence.
The man is currently awaiting sentencing, and it is likely that he will face a lengthy prison term for his crimes. The community is still reeling from the tragedy, but they are hopeful that justice will be served for the victims and their loved ones.
In conclusion, the 2019 sword deaths of a father and stepmother in Pennsylvania have left a lasting impact on the community. The man responsible for the killings has entered a no contest plea, shedding light on the importance of addressing mental health issues before they escalate into violence. As the case moves forward, the community remains hopeful that justice will be served for the victims and their families.
