Gang member pleads guilty in girl’s death

Published 10:24 pm Tuesday, December 15, 2009

A gang member is heading to prison for killing a Seattle girl whose body was found floating in Lake Ballinger in Mountlake Terrace more than a year ago.

Robert C. Langendoerfer, 22, faces at least 13 years behind bars. His sentencing is scheduled Friday.

The Edmonds man appeared in Snohomish County Superior Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and two counts of intimidating witnesses.

Under an agreement reached with prosecutors, Langendoerfer acknowledged that a jury likely would have held him responsible for the October 2008 killing of Britney Galindez.

Witnesses told police that Galindez, 17, was choked, stabbed in the neck with a screwdriver and then held below the lake’s surface. They said Langendoerfer was angry with her after she threw up next to him in a car after a night of drinking.

Her body was found days later, floating in the lake.

The allegations, made by a trio of admitted gang members, initially prompted prosecutors to file a first-degree murder charge against Langendoerfer.

On Monday, though, prosecutors acknowledged problems with the case. In a statement submitted to the judge in support of the plea agreement, lawyers on both sides said it was possible that one or more of the witnesses could change their stories at trial, putting the outcome in doubt.

The plea came along with agreement from Langendoerfer that he will receive a prison sentence similar to what he would have faced if convicted of second-degree murder, deputy prosecutor Dave Hiltner said.

“We felt that was important for public safety,” he said. “That was guaranteed with a plea for manslaughter. There were significant risks if we went to trial.”

Britney’s grandmother, Kathleen Henderson, said Tuesday that the girl’s family didn’t want the case to go to trial and face the possibility that Langendoerfer may be acquitted. They understood that the witnesses appeared shaky and despite a diligent search, no murder weapon was ever found.

“It’s not fair. He killed my granddaughter. We know he killed her,” Henderson said.

She said the detectives and prosecutors worked hard on the case, and it’s disappointing that there wasn’t a different outcome.

“We’re not happy about it. Nothing will bring her back,” she said. “We’re very upset about it. We have to face the facts.”

Scott North: 425-339-3431, north@heraldnet.com.