Not-guilty plea in Skyler Kauffman slaying

The Souderton man who police believe raped and killed 9-year-old Skyler Kauffman pleaded not guilty Wednesday at an arraignment in Montgomery County Court.

James Lee Troutman, 24, lowered his head as Deputy District Attorney Thomas W. McGoldrick recited the charges in connection with the girl's death May 9: first- and second-degree murder, rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, kidnapping, false imprisonment, and abuse of a corpse.

Skyler's beaten body was found wrapped in a comforter and tossed into a Dumpster shortly after she disappeared from the apartment complex where she and Troutman were neighbors.

Police found blood and a shoe in the basement of one apartment building, and neighbors pointed them to Troutman's apartment. He was arrested within hours of the body's discovery.

The prosecution told Judge William R. Carpenter that it would seek the death penalty if Troutman were convicted of first-degree murder. For a first-degree conviction, prosecutors would have to prove the crime was intentional.

"We only pursue the death penalty in cases where the facts are of such egregiousness and the history of the case is so serious that we think it is warranted," Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said. "We do that very rarely."

Defense attorney William Craig Penglase of Doylestown said Ferman's intent to seek the death penalty came "as no surprise."

"Mr. Troutman understands what those charges are and understands that his life is on the line in this case," Penglase said.

Penglase said he would pursue a mental-health defense since Troutman had "engaged in mental-health treatment throughout his lifetime."

Ferman said she was not surprised to hear that, but could not comment except to say: "We're all here for Skyler."

The child's mother, Heather Gebhard, and father, Eric Kauffman, attended the hearing with friends and relatives. As Skyler's father wept at the reading of the charges, a relative tried to comfort him.

The judge set the trial for Jan. 9. He is scheduled to hear pretrial motions Oct. 28.