San Diego
A San Diego man accused of killing a pregnant woman with a heavy rock pleaded guilty Tuesday to voluntary manslaughter.
To avoid a second trial, Ricky Thompson, 26, entered his plea to manslaughter with the allegation that the injury terminated the pregnancy of Sarah McLemore, 18.
Thompson could be sentenced to 11 years in state prison for manslaughter plus five years because of the injury, Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert Eichler said.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Herbert Exarhos set sentencing for Jan. 26. He dismissed two murder charges against Thompson in a plea bargain.
A mistrial was declared Nov. 7 in Thompson’s first trial after jurors were deadlocked 9 to 3 for a murder conviction.
McLemore was bludgeoned April 30, 1987, and her nude body was found on a San Diego Trolley overpass near 32nd and Commercial streets. She was eight months pregnant.
The motive for the slaying remains a mystery.
Thompson, who is in County Jail without bail, could also be fined $10,000.
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