ALFRED — The murder charge against a Hiram man accused in the 2006 death of a Sanford woman was dismissed today – more than a year after he told authorities that he had falsely confessed to the crime.
Robert Copley, 24, had confessed to killing 25-year-old Frances Moulton. She had disappeared in 2006 and her remains were found in a well in Lebanon in 2009. Copley was arrested in December 2009.
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In May of last year, Copley told a police detective that he knew who was responsible for Moulton’s death but had made the false confession to protect that person.
This morning, Copley pled guilty in York County Superior Court to the felony charge of hindering apprehension or prosecution. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with all but three years suspended, and he will be credited tor 18 months of time already served.
Assistant Attorney General Lisa Marchese said authorities have spent the last year determining whether Copley’s new version of the story was accurate.
She said that while he was not responsible for Moulton’s death, he was present when she was shot in the head with a crossbow.
The name of the person now suspected in Moulton’s death was not revealed in court today, but Copley’s court-appointed lawyer, Sarah Churchill, said after the proceeding that Copley has revealed the full true story to law enforcement.
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