California woman admits to child murder

A California woman has entered a guilty plea in the murder of a young girl a year ago that has captivated the United States, DPA reported.

Melissa Huckaby, 29, pleaded guilty Monday to the murder of 8-year-old Sandra Cantu, who was the playmate of her own daughter.

Her body was found stuffed in a suitcase at the bottom of a pond in April 2009 in Tracy, California, and police arrested Huckaby four days later.

Police have not released details of the killing, but according to reports they said they believe she was killed in a nearby church where Huckaby was a teacher.

Until the plea, Huckaby had denied any involvement in the killing.

Legal analysts said she likely changed her plea in order to avoid the death penalty. She pleaded guilty to murder while carrying out a kidnapping and faces life in prison without parole.

Prosecutors also dropped other charges connected with the case in exchange for the guilty plea.