ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind.—George Kearney, one of the two suspects in the 1988 death of Miriam Rice, pleaded guilty to murder on Monday without a plea agreement.

Kearney, 78, was charged with one count of murder in the cold case in July 2018.

Kearney admitted to dragging Rice into a van and helping Barbara Brewster kill her.

His sentencing is scheduled for March 29 at 9:30 a.m. Kearney could be sentenced to between 40 and 60 years.

The other person charged with murder in this case, Barbara Brewster, is scheduled to appear in court on March 12 at 9 a.m.

Rice, 28, was found dead five days after she left her home in the 800 block of Park Avenue on June 24, 1988 to walk her dog.

The married mother to a 3-year-old child was four months pregnant at the time of her death.

Her autopsy showed that she died of multiple skull fractures.

Kearney came forward in 2016 and told police that he had been recently released from prison after serving 27 years and while there, he had received letters from Brewster’s daughter questioning his involvement in Rice’s death.