DOVER, N.H., June 5 (UPI) -- A young woman testified this week that she watched as her former boyfriend killed missing University of New Hampshire student Elizabeth Marriott.
Kathryn McDonough tearfully said she helped Seth Mazzaglia pack Marriott's body in a suitcase. She said they drove to Pierce Island in Portsmouth, N.H., dumped the suitcase into the Piscataqua River.
McDonough also said she helped the coverup by sending Marriott a text message.
Prosecutors say Mazzaglia strangled Marriott, 19, of Westboro, Mass., with a bondage rope and then raped her in October 2012 because she refused to continue a game of strip poker.
McDonough, 20, was cross-examined by Mazzaglia's lawyer Thursday after two days of direct testimony. Joachim Barth suggested she changed her story when she was offered a plea deal, reminding her of what she originally told investigators.
"At that time, with nothing to gain or lose, you sat down and told us Liz Marriott died while you were having sex," Barth said.
The defense contends that Mazzaglia was not present when McDonough killed Marriott. The two young women worked together at Target.
On Wednesday, McDonough became so distraught on the stand that the judge called a temporary halt. She described Mazzaglia jumping on Marriott with the rope.
"Her arms curled up against her chest and her eyes were closed. I didn't know what to do," McDonough said.
She also wept as she said that Marriott would never be able to get married or have an adult life.
