Life for killer who hid body in home of Big Bird

A man who killed a jogger and hid her body at the home of the man who plays Big Bird on television’s Sesame Street is starting a life sentence today.

Scott Deojay was a caretaker for Caroll Spinney’s property in Danielson, Connecticut, where the bound body of Judith Nilan was found in an out building in December 2005.

Deojay initially told police he killed the 44-year-old school social worker by hitting her with his vehicle while she was jogging.

Prosecutors, however, said a post-mortem examination showed Nilan had been beaten and strangled. Her tracksuit bottoms were pulled down to her knees.

Police said Deojay, 37, of Plainfield, hid the body on Spinney’s property near the Massachusetts state border. Spinney, who plays Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on the popular children’s television show, was not home at the time, and police said he had nothing to do with Nilan’s death.

Deojay was also sentenced to 20 years in prison for the 2004 rape of a 57-year-old Plainfield woman. He was linked to that unsolved crime after he was arrested for Nilan’s death.

Deojay pleaded in December to both charges under a legal rule in which he does not admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence to convict him.

He will not be eligible for parole.