Brandon Clark, the Cicero man accused of killing his 17-year-old friend, Bianca Devins, in Utica last summer pleaded guilty on Monday to the charge of second-degree murder.
Clark said he doesn’t want to put his and the victim’s families through a trial.
Clark said he took Devins to a concert in New York City on July 13, and he saw her kiss another man. Later, Clark took Devins back to Utica and had intimate relations with her in his vehicle. She fell asleep, and he woke her up to talk about the kiss. Then Clark admits to slapping and stabbing Devins.
On July 14, police were called to a dead-end road on Poe Street in Utica, which was just a few blocks away from the site of the Boilermaker Road Race, which was about to start. Police say Devins was killed by Clark with a knife.
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When police arrived on the scene, Clark began harming himself before being stopped by police. He was taken to the hospital to undergo treatment.
Graphic photos of the crime were posted online by Clark before law enforcement arrived on scene.
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"This case will always stay with me. Not a lot of folks have actually seen the video, the content, because it is horribly graphic. It is absolutely monstrous," said Sarah DeMellier, the bureau chief of narcotics at the Oneida County District Attorney's Office.
Clark apologized for his actions.
"I would like to apologize to the family and friends of Bianca for how long that this has dragged on for. I'm sure they just want this to be over," Clark said.
Clark was also recently charged with promoting prison contraband.
Pleading guilty to second-degree murder took care of that charge.
He also gave up his right to appeal.
"I've thought about the lives that I've torn about with my actions. And I've thought about Bianca. She didn't deserve what happened to her. And I think I need to realize that what I did, I can't undo, as much as I want to. And I need to face it," Clark said.
The judge asked Clark multiple times if he wanted to plead guilty to second-degree murder. Clark said he did each time.
"My personal opinion is that the reason why he pled guilty is so that the world could not see what he did to Bianca in the back of that car," said DeMellier.
Regardless of Clark's motives, the victim's family is thankful there won't be a trial.
"Our family remains strong. We are missing Bianca every day," said Devins' grandfather Frank Williams.
A second-degree murder charge has a maximum penalty of 25 years to life in prison.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 6.