State Police: 7-year-old murder mystery solved

A Berks County woman who claimed her live-in companion was shot and killed during a home invasion robbery nearly seven years ago was arrested today and charged with his murder.

Pennsylvania State Police said Barbara Houghtby, 52, of Birdsboro, lied when she told police that Rodney L. Martz, Jr., was slain in his bed by one of two men who broke into their home, demanding money, in the early morning hours of Oct. 17, 2003.

Martz, 37, was shot multiple times in the head and pronounced dead at the scene.

State police did not immediately disclose how investigators broke the case, but said it had been presented to a grand jury impaneled last year.

The Allentown-based Morning Call newspaper reported at the time that Houghtby told police one of the robbers held her on the porch while the other went into the house.

She claimed she freed herself by kicking the robber in the leg, the newspaper said.

But is also noted that she had suffered minor injuries after being hit several times in the face and body.

Her young son was home at the time and not hurt, the Morning Call said.