Christopher McCowen mugshot

Christopher McCowen, with his attorney, Frank O’Boy, at arraignment April 15, 2005 in Orleans,
was charged based on DNA evidence. (Globe Staff Photo / John Tlumacki)

Worthington, 46, was found in her home in January 2002 lying half-naked on the kitchen floor, dead from a stab wound to the chest. Her daughter, Ava, who was two-years-old at the time, was unhurt but smeared with her mother's blood. At left, Tim Arnold, Worthington's former boyfriend, next to a diagram showing where he found Worthington's body.

Christopher McCowen is escorted into the courtroom prior to the start of closing arguments in Barnstable Superior Court, in Barnstable, Mass. , Monday, Nov. 6, 2006.

In a six-hour interrogation that the defense disputed, McCowen, according to police, said he punched Worthington in the face, stomped on her, and wiped down her body after she died, according to investigators. But police said McCowen never admitted to Worthington's murder and claimed that his friend, Jeremy Frazier, was the real killer. On the stand, Frazier denied having anything to do with Worthington's death.

Prosecutor Robert Welsh (center) presented testimony from investigators who said that McCowen, who first denied knowing the victim, later claimed he and Worthington had consensual sex the night she died after he was presented with DNA evidence.

Christopher McCowen peers around towards his family in Barnstable Superior Court, in Barnstable, Mass. , Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006.

In closing arguments, George (left) told jurors that his client was the victim of desperate and overzealous detectives. The police botched the investigation, George said, and then manipulated the evidence to fit their theory that McCowen stabbed her after drinking that Friday night in January 2002.

Christopher McCowen leaves Barnstable Superior Court, Friday, Nov. 10, 2006, in Barnstable, Mass.

Christopher McCowen looks down as the jury's verdict of guilty in his trial is read Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006, in Barnstable, Mass.

Christopher M. McCowen reacted to the jury’s verdict November 16, 2006, in the rape
and murder of fashion writer Christa Worthington. (Steve Heaslip/ Pool)

A tear streams down the cheek of Christopher McCowen as he is found guilty on all charges in his murder trial Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006, at Barnstable Superior Court in Barnstable, Mass.

Christopher McCowen reacts as the jury's verdict is read in court finding him guilty of the 2002 rape and murder of fashion writer Christa Worthington, in Barnstable, Mass., Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006.

The panel of seven women and five men found Christopher M. McCowen (left) guilty of murder with
extreme atrocity and cruelty and murder while committing felonies -- aggravated rape and burglary.

Christopher McCowen, center is shown in court as he is found guilty on all charges in his murder trial Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006, at the Barnstable Superior Court in Barnstable, Mass.

Christopher McCowen was led from Barnstable Superior Courthouse January 10, 2008
after a hearing on whether there was racial bias on the part of some jurors
during his 2006 murder trial. (Jennifer Longley for The Boston Globe)

The victim