In a disturbing case, a man who fatally shot his cousin using an AR-15 rifle, then proceeded to hide the body, set it on fire with kerosene, and let it burn for six hours, has received a 15 to 30-year prison sentence, as ruled by a judge on Friday.
Derek Louk, aged 30, had previously pleaded guilty to the abuse of a corpse in the death of Tyler Matthai, which occurred in Bedford County. This plea was the result of an agreement reached between Louk's attorneys and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, which the judge approved.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, Louk confessed to shooting Matthai on April 26, 2022, and colluded with two others in an attempt to destroy the evidence and cover up the homicide.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry expressed her views on the case, stating, “The defendant not only pulled the trigger, he then conspired to conceal his horrific crimes by destroying the evidence — the victim’s body. With this plea, he is accepting responsibility for such senseless acts of violence and disregard for human life.”
Additionally, Matthai’s estranged girlfriend, Courtney S. Boden, received a prison sentence of two to 12 years for her involvement in the crime. Jordon Robertson, who pleaded guilty to the abuse of a corpse, was sentenced to three to 23 months in prison.
Louk's actions unfolded when he entered his own home, forcibly removed Boden from the living room to her car, and shot Matthai. Louk admitted to firing two shots, with the second being fatal. He then dragged his cousin's lifeless body across the yard, concealed it beneath tires, doused it in kerosene, and allowed it to burn for six hours while he slept.
The following morning, Louk further concealed the remains by burying them under dirt. According to a relative, Matthai had been using drugs that night and had become physically aggressive with Boden. Louk intervened and resorted to lethal force when Matthai persisted in his behavior.
Louk revealed that he had known Boden for approximately seven years, and he believed that her relationship with Matthai was marked by abuse.
In another news, 49-year-old man from Pennsylvania is now confronting the possibility of a lifetime behind bars, accused of fatally shooting his 53-year-old brother and 74-year-old mother in the home they shared. See detailed story here
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