Ramona

A Ramona man admitted Monday to slaying his wife and his girlfriend, whose remains were discovered in April on his property.

Russell Klein, 38, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder in the 1983 killings of Susan Klein, 36, and Ann Milyard, 37.

San Diego Superior Court Judge J. Richard Haden set sentencing for Dec. 7.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Bill Collins said there was no agreement as to the sentencing. He said Klein faces 30 years to life in state prison.

Klein entered his pleas even though his attorney, Elliot Lande, said he disagrees with that decision. Klein’s pleas came just as his case was to be assigned to a courtroom for trial.

Susan Klein’s slaying was estimated to have occurred between May, 1983, and August, 1983, and Milyard’s death was believed to have occurred in August of that year.

Only 13 pieces of charred bone were left as the remains of Susan Klein, Collins said. Milyard’s body was mummified, he said, in a shallow grave on the 13-acre parcel on Magnolia Avenue.

The prosecutor said Klein’s son, Seth Klein, 19, led investigators to the area where his father claimed he had buried Susan Klein.

Seth Klein, who testified June 12 under immunity from prosecution, said he helped carry Milyard’s body out of the house when he was 15 years old.

Seth Klein testified that his father had told him his mother had died, but didn’t say how.

Collins said the autopsy showed that Susan Klein had numerous broken ribs and that some of the fractures were old breaks that had begun to heal.

Ronald Klein, the defendant’s brother, testified that Russell Klein had admitted killing his wife but told him that it occurred after an argument and was an accident.

Russell Klein remains in County Jail without bail.