Convicted sex offender in court, charged with killing teenage girl

SHARON, Pa. — Convicted sex offender John Bove appeared in a Mercer County courtroom Wednesday, charged with the murder of 13-year-old Kara Zdanczewski.

Channel 11 was the only one there. Bove was heavily guarded because officials believe he could be a flight risk.

Sharon police stopped and arrested Bove earlier this month and charged him with running from police.

After his arrest, officers quickly learned he was a murder suspect in nearby Ashtabula, Ohio, where police there found Zdanczewski's body.

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Police said Bove was a friend of the Zdanczewski family, and that he took Zdanczewski, killed her and burned her body. The motive, according to police, was because of a drug debt.

According to a criminal complaint, while talking with an officer, Bove confessed to killing the teen, then setting her body on fire. The complaint goes on to say he kidnapped her with the intent of "trading" her safely to her father. Bove told police the victim's father owned him $3,000 in drug money.

"We certainly hope that he doesn't fight extradition," said prosecuting attorney Mary Odem. "Those charges are more serious."

Bove will be back in court Thursday morning for an extradition hearing. Sources told Channel 11 he will not fight going back to Ohio, where he faces the most serious charges for kidnapping and murder.

Cox Media Group