Suspect in slaying pleads guilty
33-year-old is sentenced to 16 years to life in prison in 2007 case
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
SPRINGFIELD — Troy D. Estep, accused of strangling a Springfield man and dumping his body in a wooded area last year, pleaded guilty to murder Monday, July 7.
In a deal with prosecutors, Estep, 33, pleaded guilty to murder and abuse of a corpse and was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison.
He will be eligible for parole in 2024.
Estep had been charged with seven counts of murder, assault and theft in connection with the death of Don Barnette, 39, last year.
Barnette was reported missing Feb. 25, 2007, when his abandoned Jeep was discovered in Houston County, Ga.
His badly decomposed body was found May 13 in a wooded area near the 2200 block of West First Street in German Twp.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0360 or vlough@coxohio.com.




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