Free Republic

A man pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree murder in the rape and beating death last summer of a 93-year-old Omaha woman, in a deal that spared him the death penalty. Sergio Martinez-Perez, 20, entered the plea in Douglas County District Court and was immediately sentenced to life in prison. The public defender for Perez did not immediately return a message left Wednesday seeking comment. Police said Perez broke into the south Omaha home that Louise Sollowin had lived in for 70 years in the early hours of July 21, and severely beat her and raped her. Sollowin had grown up...

A teenager will now face first-degree murder charges in connection with the rape and death of a 93-year-old South Omaha woman. Autopsy results indicated that Louise Sollowin died of complications due to blunt-force trauma to her head and body, according to Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine. Sergio Martinez-Perez, 19, who had faced first-degree sexual assault charges, will be arraigned on the murder charges in Douglas County Court at 1 p.m. Friday, Kleine said. SNIP Omaha police say they found Martinez-Perez naked and on top of Sollowin. He had beaten her, sexually assaulted her and broken several bones in her face...