A Wichita man pleaded guilty Tuesday to the charge of first-degree murder in the death of Tanya Tandoc. KMUW's Aileen LeBlanc has more...
Curtis Mitchell appeared in court before District Court Judge Terry Pullman and entered a guilty plea against the advice of his attorney.
Mitchell said he understood that he was waiving his rights to a trial and a plea bargain.
The judge confirmed the details of Mitchell's account to police detectives about the events surrounding Tandoc's murder on June 3 at her home.
Tandoc was the owner of the popular restaurant Tanya's Soup Kitchen in downtown Wichita, and she was a food commentator on KMUW.
District Attorney Marc Bennett says it's unusual to have such a quick resolution to this type of case. He noted that the murder and Mitchell's plea came within two weeks.
"I'm pleased, obviously, for the family...that they don't have to go through a long drawn out affair...through a long drawn out process," Bennett says. "Ms. Tandoc obviously has a lot of friends in this community, all of whom I'm sure, are going to be pleased to know that there is an unexpectedly quick resolution to this."
Mitchell will be sentenced on July 23. He could get 50 years to life in prison.
Mitchell appears in court before Judge Terry Pullman Tuesday:
