Katherine Emel: Philadelphia woman charged with homicide after hiring hitmen to rob and kill boyfriend

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

NORRISTOWN, PHILADELPHIA: The 29-year-old woman placed a GPS tracker in her boyfriend's car, allowing one of the men involved in the subsequent robbery and murder to track his location. 

After the murder, Katherine Emel surrendered herself on Wednesday, and the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office charged her with second-degree murder, robbery, and conspiracy in the death of her boyfriend, William Carter. 

Notably, three other men who were also involved in the murder, identified as Damon Brantley Jr, 18, Daquan Allen, 29, and Jerry Butler, 28, are accused of committing the armed robbery and murder of Carter as per Law&Crime.

Cops responded to crime scene 

On January 20, authorities in Norristown, a suburb of Philadelphia, responded to a report of shots fired shortly before 8 pm.

Medical personnel declared the victim, William Carter deceased at the scene. 

Notably, law enforcement discovered three 9 mm shell casings near Carter's body, along with the absence of cash or a cellphone, suggesting a robbery had occurred. 

During the investigation, it was revealed that Carter's cellphone remained active for nearly three hours following his murder. 

Additionally, detectives learned that he had been visiting his 1-year-old daughter at her mother Tiara James' residence in Norristown just prior to his death.

The child's mother informed investigators that she had requested Carter to place a $20 sports bet for her, explaining that she only had $17 in cash and needed an additional $3.

In response, Carter stated that he needed to retrieve it after running out of the car.

Cops collected visuals from surviellance footage

Surveillance footage captured Carter approaching his car, reaching inside, and retrieving an item before returning to the residence.

Subsequently, Brantley, Butler, and the juvenile emerged from a Toyota RAV4 parked behind Carter's vehicle. 

Allegedly, Brantley forcefully pushed Carter against the wall while the juvenile and Butler restrained him. 

Brantley then purportedly rifled through Carter's pockets as he brandished a firearm with an extended magazine, firing three shots in rapid succession. 

This action led authorities to suspect that the gun might have been modified with an illegal "switch" to enable automatic firing. 

One of the shots struck Carter, causing him to collapse. The suspects then fled back to the RAV4, with Allen reportedly acting as the getaway driver. 

Later, around 3 am on January 21, law enforcement received a report of a burning RAV4. Upon arrival, the initial responding officer observed a figure in dark clothing fleeing the scene. 

Detectives suspect that Brantley set the car ablaze using gasoline in an attempt to destroy evidence.

The RAV4 had been stolen four days prior to the murder during a high school basketball game that Brantley purportedly attended.

Detectives uncovered footage depicting a passenger exiting the stolen car on the day of the theft.

The passenger informed investigators that a woman, subsequently identified as Brantley's girlfriend, had provided transportation. A search of the girlfriend's apartment yielded valuable evidence.

Investigators found evidence against Katherine Emel and trio

After searching Brantley's girlfriend's apartment, investigators discovered several 9mm cartridges identical to those used in Carter's murder, as well as the extended magazine believed to be attached to the weapon. 

Initially, Katherine Emel denied any involvement. However, detectives grew suspicious when they found that she had deleted her call history prior to January 3. 

Additionally, Emel admitted to placing an Apple AirTag in the trunk of the car, which belonged to her but was being driven by Carter. 

She later informed detectives that she had heard from an acquaintance that Allen may have been involved. 

Although she denied having a relationship with him, Emel acknowledged that Allen had previously supplied cocaine to Carter. 

Further investigation into Allen's cellphone revealed that he and Emel had exchanged 14 calls around the time of the murder. 

The juvenile also spoke with detectives, stating that he had overheard parts of Emel and Allen's conversations. Allegedly, Emel informed Allen that Carter had recently won a parlay worth approximately $3,000 and provided him with Carter's location on the night of the murder. 

Allen and Emel met at a Philadelphia gas station on the night of the murder, where he purportedly gave her $700 and disclosed his involvement in Carter's killing. 

The juvenile claimed to have heard Allen tell Emel, "Yo, I know this is a lot right know but you know about this. So, I know cooperating wouldn’t really be in your best interest. Cause you’ll be looking at, if not more time than any of us would be, cause you’re the one who gave us the information." 

Prosecutors concurred with this sentiment, leading to the arrest and charging of Emel and the trio. All four suspects are currently held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility without bond, with a court date set for February 16.