WA inmate charged with aggravated murder in death

EVERETT, Wash. – Prosecutors have filed an aggravated murder charge against a Washington prison inmate accused of strangling a guard at the Monroe Correctional Complex.

Thursday's filing came as a newly released court document quoted Byron Scherf as saying he deserves to die for killing Officer Jayme Biendl.

Prosecutor Mark Roe says he is giving Scherf's lawyers until March 7 to provide any information they want him to consider before he decides whether to seek the death penalty.

In Washington state, aggravated murder is punishable either by death or life in prison without parole. Scherf is already serving life without parole for attacks on women.

In earlier court papers, detectives say Scherf confessed to killing Biendl on Jan. 29 in the prison chapel, saying he was angry with the way she spoke to him minutes earlier.