A Lompoc woman is scheduled to be sentenced later this year after admitting to killing her 74-year-old neighbor.
Melissa Martin, 37, entered the guilty plea Tuesday to second-degree murder in the death of Eldri Terese Jauch, according to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.
Jauch’s body was found in Martin’s apartment in June of 2019, a few days after the victim’s sister reported her missing.
Martin was arrested outside a home in Santa Ynez shortly after.
Detectives say Jauch died from blunt force trauma. It’s alleged a baseball bat was used in the killing.
Martin is scheduled to be sentenced to 15-years-to-life behind bars on Aug. 31, according to the DA’s Office.
