Delco woman admits killing woman, 85
A Delaware County woman has pleaded guilty and been sentenced in the beating death of an elderly Yeadon woman.
Contact staff writer Mari A. Schaefer at 610-892-9149 or mschaefer@phillynews.com.
Krystal Mariani, 23, of Upper Darby, will serve from 32 to 64 years in prison for the March 2008 murder of Rita Hreha, the 85-year-old great-aunt of her boyfriend, David J. Galdo. Mariani pleaded guilty Thursday to third-degree murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, and theft.
Galo, 28, also of Upper Darby, was a codefendant in the case. He pleaded guilty in October to second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit robbery, and was sentenced to life in prison.
Hreha was known for her generosity and invited the two - both drug addicts, court papers say - to live with her on Ruskin Lane in Yeadon.
In 2007, Galdo was arrested for stealing money from Hreha. She declined to press charges, but her bank did.
On March 17, 2008, Hreha was found beaten to death on her kitchen floor.
Mariani and Galdo cashed a check for about $500 from the victim's account and used the money to buy drugs, according to court documents.
Initially, each defendant said it was the other who struck Hreha with a glass figurine. At an earlier hearing, a detective testified that Galdo's fingerprint was found on the object.
Contact staff writer Mari A. Schaefer at 610-892-9149 or mschaefer@phillynews.com.
