Woman's mother-in-law to stand trial in death
Published on -1/1/2013, 2:48 PM
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- The mother-in-law of a Topeka woman who was killed in October will go on trial for her alleged part in the death.
A judge ruled after a preliminary hearing Monday that 57-year-old Manuela Alcala of El Paso, Texas, will be tried for first-degree murder in 34-year-old Ashley Alcala's death. Her trial is scheduled to start March 25.
The victim's husband, 32-year-old Manuel Alcala of Topeka, and two 19-year-old men from El Paso are also charged with first-degree murder in her death. One of the 19-year-old men is also Manuela Alcala's son.
Testimony on Monday indicated that investigators found a hand-drawn map at Manuela Alcala's home in El Paso that had an "X" marking the Topeka home Ashley Alcala. Testimony also showed that Manuela Alcala owed her daughter-in-law about $4,000.
