Lily Burk Update: Parolee Pleads Guilty to Slaying of 17-Year-Old
LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) Charlie Samuel has pleaded guilty to murder in the slaying of Lily Burk, the 17-year-old girl who was kidnapped, forced to try to withdraw money from a bank, then beaten to death.
The 50-year-old California parolee pleaded guilty on Friday to first-degree murder, kidnapping to commit robbery and other charges.
He was arrested for an unrelated drug crime before Burk's body was discovered in her black Volvo.
The plea Friday means he avoids a possible death penalty for the July 24, 2009 killing.
Police say Samuel abducted Burk after she went to Southwestern University School of Law to run an errand for her mother, who is a professor there.
Soon after arriving at the school, Burk was approached by Samuel and abducted, police said. He then forced her to drive to an ATM where she made several failed attempts to get money.
Samuel had been on parole after serving time for petty theft. He had a criminal record that dated back decades and included a violent robbery.
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