A federal judge says comments a 22-year-old Vermont man made that amounted to a confession in the killing of an elderly Sheffield, Vermont woman can be used during his upcoming trial on separate charges.
Michael Norrie of Sheffield had asked that the statements he gave to federal law enforcement officers be suppressed because he claimed he did not understand his right to remain silent.
The Burlington Free Press reported that U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reiss ruled there's no evidence to support Norrie's request.
It was during another January 2011 questioning that Norrie made incriminating statements about the shooting death of 78-year-old Mary "Pat" O'Hagan, who disappeared on Sept. 10, 2010. Her body was found three weeks later in Wheelock.
No one has been charged in her death.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.