Gregory Eldred, Pa. man, pleads guilty to murdering organist ex-wife in church
(CBS/AP) COUDERSPORT, Pa. - Gregory Eldred, a northern Pennsylvania man, has pleaded guilty to fatally shooting his ex-wife while she played the organ during a church service last year.
Under the plea agreement entered Wednesday, the 53-year-old Eldred of Coudersport will receive a mandatory life prison term when he returns for sentencing next week.
Eldred pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, acknowledging that he gunned down 53-year-old Darlene Sitler while she was serving as the organist at the First United Presbyterian Church of Coudersport on Dec. 2. The church is about 140 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
Eldred was an elementary school music teacher, while Sitler taught music at the Northern Potter Children's School.
According to The Bradford Era, District Attorney Andy Watson told the judge that Eldred killed his ex because of unspecified "information she possessed."