South Dakota man charged in 2013 death of girlfriend takes plea offer, avoiding murder charge

By Mitchell Now February 1, 2024 6:59 am

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RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — More than a decade after the decomposing body of a 38-year-old woman was found in the Black Hills, the boyfriend accused of her murder took a plea offer the day before trial. Meshell Will was reported missing in August 2013. Richard Schmitz, 55, was arrested in 2021 and charged with second-degree murder. On Tuesday, he entered an Alford plea to second-degree manslaughter, a felony with up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. An Alfred plea acknowledges the state has enough evidence to convict him while maintaining his innocence. In exchange, the state agreed to drop the second-degree murder charge, which carries a mandatory life sentence.

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