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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Accused Killer Has 20-Year Criminal Record

GEORGETOWN — The man charged with murdering his 70-year-old woman neighbor Halloween night has a long history of earlier convictions.

Michael Purnell, 43, was arrested Nov. 3 and charged with killing Dorothy Gudger, his neighbor in the River Village community in Long Neck. It's the most recent and most serious charge on a criminal record in Sussex County that began more than 20 years ago.

According to court records, Purnell pleaded guilty to rape in 1988. He was sentenced to seven years' probation and was discharged from probation after just five years.

In September 1998 Purnell was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, but the charges were dropped three days later.


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