Montgomery County D.A. wants previous bad acts as part of evidence in girl’s murder trial

James Lee Troutman won’t go to trial until January for the rape and murder of his 9-year-old Souderton neighbor, but the Montgomery County district attorney yesterday filed papers yesterday to include Troutman’s previous encounters with the victim as evidence in his trial.

D.A. Risa Vetri Ferman argued the April 18 incident in which police were called after Skyler Kauffman and a friend were briefly locked in Troutman’s apartment is evidence supporting the rape and murder charges against him, as the Times-Herald reports.

The judge has not decided yet if that, and testimony alleging Troutman was angry at Kauffman following that incident, will be allowed at the trial. The defense will have a chance to challenge that request.

Troutman is accused of raping and murdering Kauffman three weeks after the alleged encounter in his apartment.