On November 11 1978 the body of 15 yr old Mary Lou Arruda was discovered decomposing tied to a
tree in the Freetown-Fall River State Forest. Her body was discovered by a dirt bike rider. The cause of death was ruled by the medical examiner as strangulation by ligature or positional asphyxia. The medical examiner determined she was alive and in a standing position when she was tied to the tree, but once she became unconscious the weight of her head against the ligature around her neck caused her to suffocate. It was determined she died the same day she went missing. She was later buried in the St. Joseph's Cemetery in Raynham Mass.
At the trial, James Kater testified on his own behalf and acknowledged his guilt in the 1968 incident. He stated was rebuilding his life since his release from prison in January 1976. Kater denied any involvement with the Arruda case.
In 1979 Kater was convicted of 1st degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court overturned the verdict, and he was convicted again in 1986. The verdict once again was overturned. He was retried in 1992, ending in a mistrial. He was retried in 1996 and was finally convicted. Kater is currently serving his sentence in a federal prison at Lompoc, California where he was moved for his safety.
On November 11 1978 the body of 15 yr old Mary Lou Arruda was discovered decomposing tied to a
tree in the Freetown-Fall River State Forest. Her body was discovered by a dirt bike rider. The cause of death was ruled by the medical examiner as strangulation by ligature or positional asphyxia. The medical examiner determined she was alive and in a standing position when she was tied to the tree, but once she became unconscious the weight of her head against the ligature around her neck caused her to suffocate. It was determined she died the same day she went missing. She was later buried in the St. Joseph's Cemetery in Raynham Mass.
At the trial, James Kater testified on his own behalf and acknowledged his guilt in the 1968 incident. He stated was rebuilding his life since his release from prison in January 1976. Kater denied any involvement with the Arruda case.
In 1979 Kater was convicted of 1st degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court overturned the verdict, and he was convicted again in 1986. The verdict once again was overturned. He was retried in 1992, ending in a mistrial. He was retried in 1996 and was finally convicted. Kater is currently serving his sentence in a federal prison at Lompoc, California where he was moved for his safety.