GOLDEN, Colo.—A Jefferson County man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2003 death of his estranged wife after a jury deadlocked on whether he was guilty of first-degree murder.
Daniel DeWild entered his plea Thursday in an agreement with prosecutors. He faces a prison term of 72 to 75 years at his Feb. 28 sentencing.
DeWild was accused of killing Heather DeWild by hitting her in the head with a hammer and then hanging her in July 2003. Her body was found in September 2003 in a shallow grave.
At a November trial, a jury convicted DeWild of conspiracy and accessory but deadlocked on the first-degree murder charge.
DeWild’s twin, David, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit second-degree murder and testified that his brother hung Heather DeWild.
