33 Year Old Missing Jessica Padgett Has been Found Dead in Northampton County, PA … Stepfather Gregory Graf Charged with Murder

33 year old Jessica Padgett has been found deceased in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Padgett’s body was found buried behind a shed on the property where her step father, Gregory Graf  and Jessica’s mother lives. 53 year old Gregory Graff has been arrested and charged with murdering his step daughter. According to police, Graf shot Jessica Padgett to death in what appears to be a sexual assault. District Attorney John Morganelli said Gregory Graf admitted he shot Padgett in his home and disposed of her body.

Jessica Padgett had been missing since Friday, November 21 when she was last seen  her job  at the Duck Duck Goose Child Care center on Canal Street in Northampton around noon.  Graf is being held without bail. The DA is still considering whether he will try this as a death penalty case.

Jessica Padgett – Rest in Peace

Gregory Graf was arrested after police found Jessica Padgett’s body on his property in Northampton County. Padgett, a mother and day care worker, had been missing since Friday.

The motive for the slaying appears to be sexual assault, District Attorney John Morganelli said. He didn’t elaborate.

Police began focusing on the 53-year-old Graf after he gave inconsistent statements following Padgett’s disappearance, he said. Graf later gave a statement admitting he fatally shot her, Morganelli said.

Padgett’s body was found buried behind a shed on the property where Graf lives with Padgett’s mother. The couple operates a fence company at the site.

Missing Mom Jessica Padgett Was Killed by Stepfather:

“During an interview with the investigators he [Graf] did admit that he intentionally and knowingly caused the death of the victim at his home,” Morganelli said, adding the crime may have been premeditated. Surveillance video shows a man prosecutors believe is Graf, dropping his truck off in the Dollar General parking lot Friday morning. Later in the day, Morganelli said Graf returned to the parking lot in Padgett’s SUV, parked it and drove off again in his truck.