TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) - A Tecumseh State Prison inmate charged in the strangulation death of his cellmate and now facing the death penalty has fired his attorneys and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
The Lincoln Journal Star reports that Patrick Schroeder entered the plea Friday, telling a judge that he wants to represent himself and drop his legal challenges to the death penalty.
Schroeder is charged in the April death of 22-year-old Terry Berry Jr. Prosecutors said Friday that Schroeder and Berry had been sharing a cell for less than a week when Berry was killed. Schroeder confirmed at the hearing that he had grown intolerant of Berry's constant talking and strangled him with a towel.
Schroeder is already serving life for the 2006 killing of 75-year-old Pawnee City farmer Kenneth Albers.
© Associated Press
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Horton man arrested following weekend shooting
Hiawatha man facing sex, drug charges waives prelim hearing
Two arrested Thursday in Jackson Co on meth-related charges
Morrill pair arrested on drug, child endangerment charges
Jackson Co traffic stop leads to arrest
Falls City man sentenced to Federal Prison
Inmate dies at Lansing Correctional Facility
Early Thursday storms leave damage, outages, locally
One held for past Atchison shooting
Ground Broken for new Sac and Fox Trad'n Post
MO grass fire battled Thursday
Mound City Mayor Duane Nauman remembered
Community Healthcare System hires new CEO
Brown Co Planning Commission established
Falls City School Board approves personnel moves and purchases
Valley Falls' future set for Wednesday eve discussion
PBPN breaks ground for new business
LATEST STORIES
Morrill pair arrested on drug, child endangerment charges
Rates to increase at Brown Co landfill
NOAA weather radio event set in Seneca
Falls City man sentenced to Federal Prison
Ground Broken for new Sac and Fox Trad'n Post
New nurse practitioner in Mound City
Mound City Aldermen reorganize and approve purchases