Columbia man admits guilt in mother, brother-in-law’s deaths

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - A Columbia man was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison after admitting that he killed two family members in 2016.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports 37-year-old Dale Horton pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder Thursday. He was then given two sentences of life without parole.

Callaway County prosecuting attorney Chris Wilson says the plea deal was conditioned on prosecutors not pursuing the death penalty. He says the victims’ relatives agreed to the plea deal.

Horton admitted to shooting his mother, Sherry Horton, and his brother-in-law, Joshua Griffith, in April 2016 at a home in Callaway County.

Horton’s girlfriend, 28-year-old Jennifer Grayson, of Columbia is scheduled for trial in November on two first-degree murder charges and other charges related to the case.

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Information from: Columbia Daily Tribune, https://www.columbiatribune.com