East Pikeland Township Man Convicted In Ex-girlfriend’s Death

WEST CHESTER — A 57-year-old East Pikeland Township is in Chester County Prison Monday awaiting sentencing after being convicted of in the beating death of his ex-girlfriend.

Mark Turner was convicted Friday in Chester County Justice Center by a jury of third-degree murder in the Nov. 1, 2018 beating death of 45-year-old Rachel Yerger in their home on Ridge Road, bordering Phoenixville.

Yerger died of blunt injury, according to medical authorities.

Third-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of 20 to 40 years in state prison.

“Rachel Yeager died a painful and horrific death at the hands of Mark Turner,” Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said Monday. “My deepest sympathy goes out to her loved ones, and while this verdict doesn’t bring Rachel back, it hopefully will serve as justice and ease their pain.

The trial was before Judge Analisa Sondergaard.

According the prosecutors:

Turner was drinking alcohol after work before returning home, where he found Yerger on a couch.

Turner claimed he became enraged because he suspected the victim of cheating on him.

He repeatedly punched her in the jaw and kicked her multiple times in the vaginal area with his steel-toed work boots.

The victim before she was taken by West End Ambulance to Phoenixville Hospital. She was then transferred to the trauma unit at Paoli Hospital, where she pronounced the victim dead.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Michelle Frei and Assistant District Attorney Justin Roberts. Turner was represented by attorney Vincent DiFabio of Paoli.

To report domestic violence contact #dvcccpa at 888-711-6270 or 610-431-1430 or 911 if you are in immediate danger.