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Philadelphia Murder Suspect Wears 'Crime Pays' T-shirt To Court

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia judge wants to know why a murder suspect appeared in court in a T-shirt that says, "Crime Pays."

Jeremiah Jakson is charged with strangling an art school graduate staying in the same boarding house while she looked for work.

Prosecutors believe Jakson killed 23-year-old Laura Araujo in July in order to steal her laptop and bank card. They say he then stuffed her body in a duffel bag and torched her vehicle.

Jakson told Municipal Court Judge Teresa Carr Deni at Wednesday's preliminary hearing that he was given the shirt in jail and had nothing else to wear.

The judge has asked his lawyer to investigate.

She meanwhile has upheld murder, arson and other charges against the 22-year-old Jakson.

Relatives say Araujo had a fashion degree and volunteered teaching English.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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