One of two defendants charged in Augusta woman's death pleads guilty
One of two people scheduled to go on trial for the death of an Augusta woman last year has pleaded guilty.
The Augusta Gazette reports Lyndsey Giovinazzo reached a plea agreement with prosecutors Friday in connection to the death of Loyce Cody.
Cody was found dead inside of her Augusta home on December 5. Her car was also missing.
Police officers with the Augusta Department of Public Safety went to check on Cody that morning when she failed to report for work in Wichita. A search began for Cody's vehicle, a Toyota Corolla.
Augusta Police and Butler County Sheriff's Deputies later caught up to Giovinazzo and her co-defendant Jacob Hoyt after a car was found burning in an area south of Augusta. A chase ensued that ended when the pair were captured in Cowley County.
In exchange for her plea to first degree murder, prosecutors have dropped charges of arson, felony theft and criminal use of a financial card. Cody will be sentenced in September.
In Butler County District Court on Friday, Giovinazzo confessed to her role in Cody's death. Giovinazzo said she held Cody down while her co-defendant Jacob Hoyt, Loyce Cody's grandson, suffocated her.
Giovinazzo will most likely be called to testify against Hoyt, who has yet to have a preliminary hearing.
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