Reginald Mapp Jr. with attorney Mike Acuff
Reginald Mapp Jr. on Tuesday pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the strangulation death of his 75-year-old neighbor and was given a 40-year prison sentence.
Prosecutor Cameron Williams said it will be served at 100 percent.
Mapp also was given a concurrent 15-year sentence for especially aggravated murder.
The prosecutor said the state had DNA evidence against Mapp, who was 20 at the time of the Sept. 15, 2012, slaying of JoAnn DeSha.
Ms. DeSha's body was found at the entryway of her home at 2302 Marco Circle by her daughter and son-in-law. She lived alone at the home.
Prosecutor Williams said the victim had been strangled with a vacuum cleaner cord. He said a crumpled cup and a broken fingernail were found near the body. He said Mapp's DNA was on the cord, the cup and the fingernail.
Police had obtained information that Mapp had contact with Ms. DeSha regarding purchasing a Cadillac she owned and had not wanted to sell.
A search warrant was executed at 2330 Marco Circle, where Mapp lived with his parents. The key to the Cadillac was found at the residence.
Mapp denied killing Ms. DeSha and claimed he had bought the Cadillac but not yet moved it.