TACOMA, Wash. -  Terapon Adhahn will not face the death penalty if he is convicted in the murder of 12-year-old Zina Linnik of Tacoma.

Pierce County Prosecutor Gerald Horne made that announcement just minutes after Adhahn pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated first degree murder, first degree kidnapping and first degree rape in the death of Linnik.

At a press conference Monday afternoon, Horne said that during the search for Zina, there had been hope that she was still alive, so he struck a deal that took the death penalty off the table.

"I was asked if I would agree to remove the death penalty in exchange for Mister Adhahn telling us where Zina was located, and upon concurrence from the police officers, I agreed to do so.  This was a decision made in unusual circumstances based on the urgency of fading hope for Zina's survival."

Horne said he did not have time to discuss the deal with Zina's family because time was running out.

"FBI behavior analysts feared she could be within hours of death for lack of water," said Horne.  "Other jurisdictions have had success by taking the death penalty off the table in exchange for telling where the victim was located."

Horne says he will seek life in prison for Adhahn.

Charging papers released hours before Monday's arraignment revealed more of the case against Adhahn.

Pierce County prosecutors say Adhahn personally led police to Zina's body in the area of Silver Lake near Eatonville on July 12.  Earlier indications were that Adhahn's attorney had told police where to find the body.

An autopsy determined Zina died of blunt force trauma to the head.  Adhahn's DNA was also found on her body.

Linnik's family watched Adhahn's arraignment.  Zina's uncle says the family is glad the death penalty was a potential option.

"Honestly, I'm glad we have the death penalty in our states," said Linnik family spokesperson Anatoly Kalchik, "If we didn't, it couldn't be discussed and we would never know if he would ever show us where the body is because he was afraid he could be put to death and as the authorities promised him that it's going to be taken off the table, he showed us where the body is."

Zina Linnik

Pheng Nix was also in court Monday on behalf of those people who had been friends with Adhahn, but she was not calling herself Adhahn's friend.

"I don't understand how a human being could harm children like that," said Nix.

Zina was playing behind her home on the night of July 4 when her family said an Asian man in a gray van grabbed her and sped off.

Prosecutors say Adhahn told co-workers the next day that he needed to get out of the country and back to his native Thailand as soon as possible. 

KING

Terapon Adhahn leaves a Pierce County courtoom on Monday, July 23, 2007 after pleading not guilty to the kidnap, rape and murder of Zina Linnik.

Bail for Adhahn in the Linnik murder is set at $5 million.  That's in addition to the $2 million bail set after Adhahn was charged last week with multiple counts of rape and kidnapping stemming from the abuse of a girl who lived with him for several years in Spanaway as well as the abduction and assault of an 11-year-old Tacoma girl in 2000. 

Adhahn pleaded not guilty to one count of kidnapping and three counts of first degree child rape for the May 31, 2000 kidnapping and rape of the girl who was found duct taped to a tree at Fort Lewis. Court documents indicate DNA evidence taken from Adhahn identifies him as the "John Doe" in that case. His trial is expected to begin September 13.

Lakewood Police officially named Adhahn a person of interest in the death of Adre'anna Jackson. The 10-year-old disappeared in December 2005 and was found dead four months later.  Police and FBI are also looking into whether Adhahn is connected to any other missing children's cases in the Northwest and around the country.

KING 5 News has learned that police in Arlington, Texas, are investigating Adhahn in connection with the kidnapping and murder of a Texas girl whose case prompted the AMBER Alert system. Amber Hagerman disappeared in January of 1996, but Arlington Police say they are not sure Adhahn was in the area at that time. A spokesperson says Adhahn is one of many people being investigated in the case.