RALEIGH -- A man accused of killing a Raleigh woman may avoid the death penalty.

A state psychologist used by Wake County concluded that Antonio Chance is mentally challenged. The state legislature prohibits a sentence of death for a mentally handicapped person.

Chance would have faced the death penalty for the murder of Cynthia Moreland.

Moreland was kidnapped from a downtown Raleigh parking deck in August 2006. Her body was found days later in Harnett County.

Chance is expected to go trial this fall.