May 4, 2024 6:30 a.m. (Story credit: Sanna Godfrey)

The News Review is reporting:

On Friday afternoon, Troy Russell Phelps told a packed courtroom he was guilty of murdering Kendra Hanks.

Hanks, an 18-year-old woman from Winston, disappeared on her way home from work on July 7, 2022. Her body was discovered in Cow Creek near Riddle six days later.

Phelps, 39, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for 30 years by Douglas County Circuit Court Judge Ann Marie Simmons. She noted he would not be eligible for any releases, such as work.

The plea was made in agreement with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.

DA Rick Wesenberg said with the guilty plea “we believe this will not come back to us,” meaning there are no appeals expected. “He has to be accountable,” Wesenberg said.

Phelps pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. Charges of second-degree murder and second-degree kidnapping were dismissed as a result of the plea.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Kelley Bean and Douglas County Chief Deputy District Attorney Allison Eichmann led the investigation, but Bean said it was a group effort.

Phelps was arrested July 21, 2022, on murder and kidnapping charges as his vehicle was observed on surveillance cameras and cell phone data location placed him and Hanks in the same area. Hanks’ blood was found in his vehicle.

The medical examiner said Hanks died from a penetrating wound to the neck.

Wesenberg said the conviction represents closure, for the family and the community.

Phelps had previously been acquitted in the 2017 murder of Brandon Michael.

During the investigation into Hanks’ murder, authorities were tipped off by Phelps’ family members that he had allegedly admitted to killing Hanks and three other women, according to Aug. 18, 2023, court filings by Phelps’ attorney Elizabeth Baker. Those victims were identified as Megan Wendel, Lilly Loftus and Kristin Correa.

Eichmann said those investigations are ongoing.