Raymond Rowe, also known as DJ Freez, has pleaded guilty to raping and murdering Christy Mirack in 1992. At a Tuesday morning hearing at the Lancaster County Courthouse, the 50-year-old Rowe, dressed in a gray suit, entered the plea and apologized to Mirack's family."I can't imagine what you're going through," Rowe said.The plea deal takes the death penalty, which prosecutors had been pursuing, off the table. Rowe will get life in prison, plus 60 to 120 years, instead.Rowe had been charged with raping and killing Mirack, an elementary school teacher at Rohrerstown Elementary School, more than 26 years ago in her East Lampeter Township home."The length of time that the defendant just went back to the community and enjoyed his life, it is chilling," said Craig Stedman, the Lancaster County district attorney. "It's haunting to all of us that he could just compartmentalize this and go back and literally enjoy his life."Charges were filed against Rowe in June 2018 after undercover state troopers were able to collect new DNA evidence linking Rowe to the crime. That DNA matched the DNA on Mirack's body and on the carpet underneath her when she was killed, according to investigators.Investigators worked with a company called Parabon on the case. They used the same technology that helped catch the suspected Golden State Killer in California. Stedman said investigators can't prove a direct connection between Rowe and Mirack, but the two frequented the same social clubs. Stedman also said Rowe's route to work took him past Mirack's apartment complex. According to prosecutors, Rowe drove a white Toyota Celica in 1992, which matched the vehicle that witnesses saw parked in odd places at the complex on the morning of the murder.Click here to see some of the evidence in the case. Stedman said Rowe didn't provide a motive."Ultimately, the bottom line for this is, what could he say that would make it better?" Stedman said. "He's a rapist. He's a murderer, and he took her life, and he's going to spend the rest of his days behind prison." Mirack's brother, Vince, read a statement in court, saying it's been a struggle every day since his sister's death. He told Rowe that he'd taken away the family's joy, security and love for the Christmas holiday. “I always knew this day would come," Mirack added. "Now you will never be free for a day again. I hope your life is as painful to you as the last 26 years has been for us.”Over the summer WGAL, aired a special looking at the Mirack case. You can watch an on-demand version of that here.
LANCASTER, Pa. —
Raymond Rowe, also known as DJ Freez, has pleaded guilty to raping and murdering Christy Mirack in 1992.
At a Tuesday morning hearing at the Lancaster County Courthouse, the 50-year-old Rowe, dressed in a gray suit, entered the plea and apologized to Mirack's family.
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"I can't imagine what you're going through," Rowe said.
The plea deal takes the death penalty, which prosecutors had been pursuing, off the table. Rowe will get life in prison, plus 60 to 120 years, instead.
Rowe had been charged with raping and killing Mirack, an elementary school teacher at Rohrerstown Elementary School, more than 26 years ago in her East Lampeter Township home.
"The length of time that the defendant just went back to the community and enjoyed his life, it is chilling," said Craig Stedman, the Lancaster County district attorney. "It's haunting to all of us that he could just compartmentalize this and go back and literally enjoy his life."
Charges were filed against Rowe in June 2018 after undercover state troopers were able to collect new DNA evidence linking Rowe to the crime. That DNA matched the DNA on Mirack's body and on the carpet underneath her when she was killed, according to investigators.
Investigators worked with a company called Parabon on the case. They used the same technology that helped catch the suspected Golden State Killer in California.
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Raymond Rowe, DJ Freeze, plead guilty to the murder of Christy Mirack. Christy was murdered in 1992 and recent DNA evidence linked Rowe to the crime scene. The plea deal saves Rowe from the death penalty. #lifeinjail pic.twitter.com/CwjogrEQfY
— Lori Burkholder (@LoriWGAL) January 8, 2019
Stedman said investigators can't prove a direct connection between Rowe and Mirack, but the two frequented the same social clubs. Stedman also said Rowe's route to work took him past Mirack's apartment complex. According to prosecutors, Rowe drove a white Toyota Celica in 1992, which matched the vehicle that witnesses saw parked in odd places at the complex on the morning of the murder.
Click here to see some of the evidence in the case.
Stedman said Rowe didn't provide a motive.
"Ultimately, the bottom line for this is, what could he say that would make it better?" Stedman said. "He's a rapist. He's a murderer, and he took her life, and he's going to spend the rest of his days behind prison."
Mirack's brother, Vince, read a statement in court, saying it's been a struggle every day since his sister's death. He told Rowe that he'd taken away the family's joy, security and love for the Christmas holiday.
“I always knew this day would come," Mirack added. "Now you will never be free for a day again. I hope your life is as painful to you as the last 26 years has been for us.”
Over the summer WGAL, aired a special looking at the Mirack case. You can watch an on-demand version of that here.
