Opera star's son may face death penalty

updated 12:42 p.m. ET Aug. 10, 2009

HONESDALE, Pennsylvania - A prosecutor says he may seek the death penalty against the son of a Metropolitan Opera star who is accused of sexually assaulting and murdering a camp counselor 18 years ago.

Forty-six-year-old Jeffrey Plishka has been charged with the 1991 slaying of 24-year-old Laura Ronning near a Poconos waterfall in Pennsylvania.

Plishka is being held without bail. He was charged last month and says he's innocent.

Wayne County District Attorney Michael Lehutsky is deciding whether to pursue the death penalty against Plishka. The defendant is the son of well-known opera singer Paul Plishka.

Ronning was working at Camp Cayuga near Honesdale when she disappeared while on a hike. Police say Ronning was sexually assaulted then shot in the head.

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