Suspect In 1992 Agawam Rape, Murder Changes Plea To Guilty

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — The suspect in the 1992 abduction, rape and killing of a Massachusetts teacher's aide has changed his plea to guilty.

Gary Schara pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree murder in the death of 24-year-old Lisa Ziegert (ZEE'-guhrt).

Ziegert was a teacher's aide at Agawam Middle School when she disappeared from her second job at a card and gift store where she was working alone. Her body was found in a nearby wooded area four days later.

The case remained unsolved until the now 50-year-old Schara was arrested in September 2017 after testing confirmed his DNA matched evidence found at the crime scene.

Schara had previously pleaded not guilty.

When the judge asked Schara if he knew he was giving up his right to a jury trial, he said "Yes, I do."

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