Life In Prison For Serial Killer

A serial killer who prosecutors say burned half his victims to ash in his mother's yard during a two-year murder spree pleaded guilty Tuesday to killing eight women.

Under a deal with prosecutors, Larry Bright, 39, now faces life in prison without parole rather than the death penalty.

Four of his victims' bodies were found dumped along little-traveled roads around Peoria in 2003 and 2004. Remains of the others were found in burn pits in the yard he shared with his mother.

Bright pleaded guilty Tuesday to seven counts of first-degree murder and one count of drug-induced homicide in the deaths.

Under the deal with prosecutors, the former concrete worker also waived all appeal rights and will serve the entire life sentence.

The killings and the time it took authorities to connect them and then track down the killer caused an uproar in Peoria's black community.

Black leaders alleged police were slow to launch an investigation into the deaths and disappearances because the victims' were black and several were prostitutes and drug addicts. Bright is white.