Morganelli said he concluded that Graf took Padgett's life in order to have sex with her body. Padgett, 33, a Whitehall Township mother of three, had once described Graf on social media as like a second father.
Morganelli has said because the sexual abuse occurred after — and not before — he is unable to seek the death penalty.
Under Pennsylvania law, a murder in perpetration of a felony is an aggravating factor that allows prosecutors to pursue capital charges. Rape rises to that level, but the sexual desecration of a corpse does not, as case law has established, Morganelli said.
Padgett's body wasn't discovered until five days after she went missing, prompting a frantic search by friends and family. The effort included a "Help find Jessica Padgett" Facebook page that drew thousands of members.
On Nov. 21, Padgett left Duck Duck Goose Child Care in Northampton and never returned to her job there. A police affidavit places the shooting roughly 10 minutes after she was last seen.