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DA: Indiana County man to plead guilty to killing wife, girls

INDIANA COUNTY, Pa. — A district attorney says a western Pennsylvania man has been scheduled to plead guilty Friday to killing his two young daughters and his estranged wife earlier this year.

Indiana County District Attorney Patrick Dougherty didn't immediately say what charges 41-year-old Lewis Beatty, of Home, will plead guilty to or what penalty he'll face. Beatty's attorney hasn't returned a call for comment.

Daugherty planned to seek the death penalty if Beatty was convicted of first-degree murder at trial.

Beatty is also charged with arson and animal cruelty because he allegedly set fire to his home, where his daughters were killed, and his estranged wife's residence after fatally shooting the family's pet pony, goat and dog on June 1.

State police say Beatty confessed to choking and slashing the throat of 33-year-old Christine Beatty, 6-year-old Sara, and 11-year-old Amanda.