Butler County murder suspect pleads guilty
A south-central Kansas man has pleaded guilty to killing his grandmother while burglarizing the 69-year-old preschool teacher's home with his girlfriend.
20-year-old Jacob Hoyt entered the plea Friday in Butler County District Court.
Hoyt was initially charged with premeditated first-degree murder for the December 2011 strangling death of Loyce Cody at her Augusta home. He pleaded guilty instead to first-degree murder in the commission of a felony in this case, aggravated burglary.
Hoyt and Lyndsey Giovinazzo were arrested shortly after the killing while leading officers on a two-county chase in Cody's car.
Giovinazzo pleaded guilty earlier to first-degree murder. She was sentenced last month to 25 years to life in prison.
For Hoyt, prosecutors recommended a life sentence with a chance for parole after 20 years.
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