By Peter Hecht
phecht@sacbee.com
Tylar Marie Witt, whose lurid writings detailed a forbidden teenage relationship and an alleged murder plot, pleaded guilty today of the brutal killing of her mother.
Witt (left) was 14 at the time of June, 2009 killing of her mother, Joanne Witt, in their El Dorado Hills home.
She accepted a plea bargain that will send her to prison for 15 years to life in exchange for her testimony at the trial of her former boyfriend, Steven Paul Colver (bottom right).
Colver, who was 19 at the time of the crime, is charged with stabbing Joanne Witt to death in her bed after Tylar Witt summoned him to house in the predawn hours.
The teen lovers were allegedly furious that Joanne Witt filed a statutory rape report against Colver and gave authorities her daughter's journal detailing a sexual relationship between the teens.
Under a plea bargain agreed to before El Dorado County Judge James R. Wagoner, Witt pleaded guilty to first-degree murder with two special circumstances: lying in wait and killing a witness.
If she fails to cooperate with authorities, she will be sent to prison for 25 years to life. Under the plea bargain, she will get 15 years for second-degree murder.![]()
Witt originally pleaded non-guilty by reason of insanity in to the case.
Her attorney, Mark Ralphs, said the plea deal - long in the works - means that "Witt has to testify truthfully" in all upcoming proceedings.
"What everyone has bargained for is her truthful testimony," Ralphs said.
Prosecutor Lisette Suder said court documents signed by the Witt, now 15, affirmed the girl's role in the killing.
"She pleaded guilty to murder and murder with special circumstances," Suder said. "She didn't say, 'No contest.' She said, 'I plead guilty.'"
Call The Bee's Peter Hecht, (916) 326-5539.
Previous coverage:
Story written by teen defendant ruled admissible in murder trial - Aug. 17, 2010
El Dorado judge: Teen murder suspects may be tried together - July 15, 2010
Hearing delayed for teens held in mom's killing - March 27, 2010
El Dorado prosecutor won't seek death penalty for murder plot suspect, 19 - Jan. 23, 2010
El Dorado County murder trial ordered for teens - Jan. 8, 2010
Teenager charged with killing mom in El Dorado Hills to be tried as adult - Nov. 25, 2009
El Dorado judge to decide how girl will be tried in homicide case - Nov. 20, 2009
Prosecution outlines lurid murder plot in El Dorado Hills mom's stabbing - Nov. 18, 2009









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