The man accused of murdering a young woman in February and burning her body in a car pleaded guilty to manslaughter yesterday.
Steven Dougan, 27, of Shade, told prosecutors yesterday that during a fight he shoved Crystal King, 27. She hit her head on a car door and died, Prosecutor C. David Warren said. Dougan will serve 13 years total for involuntary manslaughter, arson and tampering with evidence.
Dougan later burnt King's body along with the car, Warren added. The State Highway Patrol found the car and body near Chase Road.
At his plea hearing yesterday, Dougan said he and King fought after King threatened to reveal some indiscretions to Dougan's girlfriend.
Lack of a murder weapon and other evidence led to the prosecutor's offering of the plea deal, Warren said, adding that he had the consent of King's parents.
Warren said he is satisfied with the sentence and wouldn't have offered the plea deal otherwise.
Dougan's attorney, Dennis Sipe, could not immediately be reached for comment yesterday afternoon.
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Brigitta Burks
