McCowen was found guilty in the 2002 rape and murder of Christa Worthington, a former fashion writer whose family had lived in Truro, Massachusetts, for generations.
McCowen was charged with the crimes in April 2005, more than three years after the discovery of Worthington's body in her Truro home on January 6, 2002.
[1] McCowen had lived on Cape Cod since about 1998 and had been a garbage collector whose regular route included Worthington's home.
[1] In January 2008, a hearing was held to determine whether racism was a factor in the jury’s decision to convict McCowen.
Three jury members testified separately that fellow jurors made racist remarks during deliberations.