Prosecutors are working on a plea bargain with the younger of two brothers accused of helping their mother kill their two sisters a decade ago.
Sacramento County Deputy District Attorney John O'Mara is working with the attorney for Robert Knorr, 25, before his next scheduled court appearance on Dec. 1.A plea bargain could mean that Knorr could be a witness rather than defendant in the case against his brother and mother.
The Sacramento Superior Court trial is scheduled Feb. 28 for Theresa Knorr, also known as Theresa Cross, and William Knorr, 27. Theresa Knorr was arrested in Utah.
Robert Knorr was only 15 when his 17-year-old sister, Suesan Knorr, was burned to death and just 16 when 20-year-old Sheila Sanders was beaten and starved to death, then packaged in a cardboard box and dumped in Nevada County.
Based on statements made by the victims' only surviving sister, Theresa Groves, 24, of Utah, detectives believe the younger brother's role was minimal.
Groves and the oldest son, Howard Sanders, 31, are also likely to testify about their childhood.
The case originally was filed in Placer County, where detectives first pieced together the evidence, but prosecution was transferred to Sacramento, where all the events leading up to the killings allegedly occurred.