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Death Of Victim In 2008 Case Prompts New Investigation And Possibility Of More Serious Charges For Marlton Man

By Robin Rieger

MARLTON, NJ (CBS) -- The death of the victim in a 2008 case has prompted a new investigation and created the potential for new charges for a Marlton man.

The death of 23-year-old Christine McGhee of Warminster has the Berks County District Attorney's office looking into whether or not it will file third degree murder charges against 24-year-old Michael Morrone of Marlton, NJ.

Morrone is currently serving a five to twenty year prison sentence for aggravated assault and related offenses connected to injuries McGhee suffered when she was pushed from Morrone's pickup truck and dragged by it in a Kutztown parking lot in December of 2008. The two were dating and had gotten into a fight.

McGhee's injuries left her in a vegetative state, and she died on Sunday.

"It's possible for a third degree murder charge to be filed. However, we are still in the process of reviewing the evidence and conducting an investigation and cannot make any decision until that is complete," said Jonathan Kurland, Chief of Trials in the Berks County District Attorney's Office, in a statement Wednesday.

"They could charge third degree murder if they can prove cause of death was related to the injuries she sustained," said Fortunato Perri, Morrone's defense attorney.

Morrone is serving his sentence at Camp Hill Prison. A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole says Morrone would not be up for parole until May of 2015.

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