Steven Pieper, 21, from the Town of Clay, near Syracuse, entered a guilty plea to second degree murder in the November 19 death of Jenni-Lyn Watson.
The 20-year-old woman’s body was found dumped in a wooded area of Central Park in Clay.
The case drew intensive media attention after a lengthy search for the girl, who disappeared while visiting home on Thanksgiving break from college.
Pieper admitted he had strangled and suffocated the girl while visiting her home to discuss a recent break-up.
He will be sentenced on March 8th.
Under the plea deal he will be sent to prison for 23 years to life.
