USA - Indiana. Judge Susan Orth gave the death penalty to William Gibson, 56, White

Floyd County Judge Susan Orth gave the death penalty to William Gibson, 56, White. Judge Orth followed the Oct. 25 (see) jury’s recommendation after convicting him in the slaying of Christine Whitis, 75, his mother's best friend. Judge Orth was required by law to follow the jury's death-penalty recommendation. According to prosecutors, on April 19, 2012 he sexually assaulted and then killed 75-year-old Christine Whitis, whose body was found on the man's house the same day. Buried in the backyard police then found the corpse of Stephanie Kirk, 35, who disappeared on March 25, 2012. Gibson is also charged with killing Karen Hodella, 44, who was reported missing in October 2002 and whose body was found near the Ohio River in January 2003. Gibson is to be tried separately in the murders of Kirk and Odella.