Levittown Man Pleads Not Guilty in Murder Trial

A Levittown man accused of strangling a pediatrician to death in her Philadelphia home pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning according to the Bucks County Courier Times.

Authorities claim Jason Smith, 39, an exterminator who worked in the victim’s home, admitted to killing Melissa Ketunuti January 2013 after she complained about his work.

The report states the judge refused to throw out Smith’s statement to investigators on Wednesday. Smith also refused a plea deal.

According to the report, prosecutors claim Smith used equestrian equipment to tie Ketunuti up before setting her on fire to cover up the alleged crime.