Mary Jane Fonder sentenced to life in prison for Rhonda Smith's murder

Mary Jane Fonder's life sentence issued today brought some satisfaction to the victim's family, Rhonda Smith's mother said.

"She'll pay the price in there just thinking about what she did," said Dorothy Smith of Lower Saucon Township.

Fonder, 66, of Springfield Township, Pa., again asserted her innocence during the sentencing hearing in Bucks County Court. She was convicted of first-degree murder Oct. 30 for the shooting death of Rhonda Smith, 42, of Hellertown.

Authorities say Fonder was jealous of the attention Smith received from their pastor and fellow congregants at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Springfield Township, where the Jan. 23 shooting occurred.

"I did not kill Rhonda Smith -- I thought she was a lovely girl ... and I certainly wasn't jealous of this woman for any reason," Fonder said during the 2 o'clock hearing. "I'm so sorry she's gone, but in the same respect, I will be gone, too. I'm the second person in the church to be murdered, by the system."


Source: lehighvalleylive.com