A Berea man who was accused of killing an elderly Ohio woman admits he did it, but prosecutors are not accepting his guilty plea.
Daniel French faces charges of aggravated murder, burglary and robbery. He has pled guilty to charges of aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, gross abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and aggravated murder.
He is accused of choking and slashing 87-year-old Barbara Howe to death and leaving her body in the trunk of her car. The murder happened in 2012.
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On Wednesday prosecutors in Butler County, Ohio said they will not accept the murder plea.This means French will have to face trial.
In Ohio Law, because French pleaded guilty to a serious charge like robbery, the murder count will now carry the death penalty.
French was on the run for two year before being captured in Rockcastle County.
He told authorities, “I seen Ms. Howe’s ghost and I apologized.”
The opening statements for French’s trial are scheduled for Monday and he faces the death penalty if convicted. Sentencing for the four charges will take place after the trial for aggravated murder.
