MEDIA RELEASE – FEBRUARY 5, 2013
RACHEL ATKINSON SENTENCED TO AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER
Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns, III is announcing that the Hunterdon County Superior Court today sentenced Rachel Atkinson in accordance with the plea agreement on the charge of First Degree Aggravated Manslaughter to twenty-five (25) years in the New Jersey State Prison system. Atkinson will be required to serve 85% of her sentence before she will become eligible for parole. Upon her release, she will be placed on parole supervision for five (5) years.
The daughters of the victim, Arthur Seiple, both spoke at the sentencing hearing. They indicated that “while there may be a modicum of justice in the plea agreement for us, there is no justice in it for our father. Let us not lose sight of the fact that we’re making this victim impact statement because he cannot; he was murdered.”
The defendant responded by expressing her remorse to the family.
Quote from Prosecutor Kearns: “While nothing will bring back Mr. Seiple, today’s sentencing has assisted the family in the healing process. Ms. Atkinson will now begin to pay her debt to society, thanks to the hard work and dedication of law enforcement officers from the Raritan Township Police Department and the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office.”
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