Man sentenced to life in prison plus 32. 5 years for murder of new holland woman

LANCASTER, Pa. — Robert Edward Boddy, 43, was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 32.5 years on Monday for the 2021 murder of 65-year-old Nora Sanchez in New Holland. Boddy had previously entered guilty pleas to charges including first-degree homicide, strangulation, and aggravated indecent assault, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office.

Boddy was arrested in December 2021 after DNA evidence linked him to the crime scene. He was identified as a suspect early in the investigation due to his proximity to the victim—both lived in the same housing complex—and his status as a registered sex offender under Megan’s Law, following a 2007 conviction for aggravated indecent assault.

In addition to the life sentence for homicide, Boddy received consecutive sentences for other charges, including 25 to 50 years for the aggravated indecent assault, which was classified as a “second strike” offense under state law. He was also sentenced to an additional 5 to 10 years for failing to register as a Megan’s Law offender and another 2.5 years for a forgery offense, bringing the total aggregate sentence to 32.5 to 67 years beyond the life sentence.

Assistant District Attorneys Jen Ponessa and Fritz Haverstick, who prosecuted the case, emphasized the importance of removing Boddy from the community to ensure public safety.

“The nature and circumstances of this homicide were understandably unnerving for the local community,” District Attorney Heather Adams said. “Thankfully, separate charges were able to be filed against Boddy, resulting in his removal from the community while investigators awaited the results of DNA analysis that confirmed additional circumstantial evidence in the case.”

Boddy’s conviction and sentencing bring a measure of closure to a case that deeply affected the New Holland community.

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