Kara Beth Borden & David Ludwig

A Darker Picture Emerges

David Ludwig

And what about Ludwig? Though on his blog, he appears to be little different than many small town teens, in the light of subsequent disclosures about him, some of those postings are now subject to darker interpretations. On his blog, he has posted pictures of himself, for example on a 2004 hunting trip field dressing two does. In another series he is seen brandishing a sword. Under most circumstances, the pictures might seem comparatively innocuous.

But its court filings that prosecutors believe that there was a far more ominous aspect to Ludwig's personality. That aspect of his personality appears in an 18-minute video found last week on one of Ludwig's personal computers. Though authorities — who are also seeking access to some three dozen other videos found in the Ludwig home — have not released copies of the short movie, it was detailed, according to published reports, in an affidavit in support of a search warrant filed in court last week.

On the video, Ludwig and a 19-year-old friend, who has not been charged, are dressed in dark clothing, preparing "a night patrol" as the Lancaster New Era quoted them as calling it. "The two filmed themselves as they readied to break into a local home with assault rifles and other guns," the paper reported, noting that the home in the video is not the Borden house. "In low voices, the two discussed shooting and killing a family inside the home during the chilling 18-minute film. But passing traffic foiled their plan." Toward the end of the tape, the pair discuss going to the Bordens' house.

It is not clear when the video was made, and it is also unclear whether it depicts an actual plan, or the vivid imagination of a pair of late adolescents. According to the paper, "the friend did tell police that he and Ludwig had taken guns and gone out on several occasions on 'night patrol,' with 'plans of forcible entry'. " But if nothing else, it does seem to suggest that Ludwig had at least violent fantasies.

The video also sheds some light on the way Ludwig apparently viewed Kara.