WEST UNION, W.Va. — A Doddridge County teenager admitted in court Wednesday to shooting and killing his father, mother and younger sister.
Joseph Spencer, 17, of West Union, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder with mercy in connection with the Labor Day 2012 slayings.
Spencer used his father’s 9mm handgun in the murders Frederick Spencer III, 49, his mother Dixie Spencer, 47, and his 9-year-old sister Patience Spencer.
After the case was transferred to adult status, Spencer was charged with three counts of first-degree murder. The plea bargain with prosecutors allowed Spencer to plead guilty to three counts of first degree murder with mercy. Prosecutors are recommending that two of the life-in-prison terms run concurrently and the other consecutively. That would give Spencer a chance for parole after 30 years behind bars.
He’s scheduled to be sentenced by Doddridge County Circuit Judge Tim Sweeney on Feb. 10.
Frederick Spencer was a UPS pilot, Dixie Spencer was a science teacher at Ritchie County Middle School, and Patience Spencer was a student at Doddridge County Elementary School.