MEIGS COUNTY, Ohio — Ernest Roach admitted to killing a Kanawha County teenager he met last year through a Craigslist ad she posted.
Roach, 36, was in an Ohio courtroom Thursday to plead guilty to murder, tampering with evidence and gross abuse of a corpse for the death of Erika Brown, 16, from Cross Lanes.
As part of his life sentence, he will be eligible for parole in 19 years.
Brown’s body was found wrapped in a tarp and tied to a concrete block along the Ohio River last August.
Brown was last seen by family members on Aug. 9, 2014, the day before prosecutors allege Roach killed her.
Last year, Roach waived extradition in Kanawha County Circuit Court to face the charges in Ohio.
In May, defense attorneys for Roach sought to suppress his videotaped confession, which was recorded by the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department.
Roach also faced two counts of compelling prostitution.