Opera star’s son pleads not guilty to killing woman in Pa. mountains 18 years ago

Opera star’s son pleads not guilty to Pa. killing

HONESDALE, Pa. — An opera star’s son has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting and murdering a Pennsylvania camp counselor 18 years ago.

Wayne County prosecutor Michael Lehutsky says he is seeking the death penalty for 46-year-old Jeffrey Plishka. Authorities say Plishka killed 24-year-old Laura Ronning near a waterfall in the Pocono Mountains in 1991.

Lehutsky says he is seeking the death penalty because Plishka killed Ronning while committing other felonies.

Ronning, of St. Petersburg, Fla., was working at Camp Cayuga near Honesdale when she disappeared while on a hike. Police say she was sexually assaulted and shot in the head.

Plishka, of Onley, Va., is the son of Metropolitan Opera singer Paul Plishka. He entered his plea Wednesday.

Information from: The Times-Tribune, thetimes-tribune.com/