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Teenage girl and boyfriend indicted in murder of step-grandfather

A 17-year-old Buffalo girl and her 20-year-old boyfriend have been indicted for the death of her step-grandfather.

Alexandria Heath and Romaine Jirdon are charged with the robbery and beating and stabbing death of 58-year-old Thomas Heath in their home at 459 West Ferry Street on the evening of November 17. The couple was arraigned in Erie County Court Thursday.

Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said, while Romaine was charged with second-degree murder, Heath was charged with both first- and second-degree murder.

"The murder first-degree charge stems from the allegation that the murder was committed with the requisite intent during the course of a robbery and that's what makes it murder in the first degree," said Flynn. "The intentional aspect of the murder is needed for murder in the first degree and for murder in the second degree, there's no need for intent."

Both defendants pleaded not guilty and have been remanded to jail without bail. If convicted, Jirdon faces a maximum of life in prison without parole, while Heath's double charge could mean a maximum of 25 years to life.

Mark Wozniak, WBFO's local All Things Considered host, has been at WBFO since mid-1978.