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The body of Abi S. Matthews, a 35-year-old college student and mother of three, was discovered on June 2 in her Malta apartment. Later that day, her burned-out car was discovered outside the village.

Investigation led authorities to Travis Lee Fischer, a 17-year-old McConnelsville resident, whom Matthews reportedly treated like a member of her family.

On June 19, Morgan County Common Pleas Judge Dan Favreau ruled that Fischer would be tried as an adult.

On Wednesday, Fischer pleaded guilty to five of the charges against him - murder, rape, burglary, grand theft and arson.

He will be sentenced at noon on Nov. 19.

McCONNELSVILLE - A 17-year-old McConnelsville teen faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison after he admitted Wednesday to beating a woman in the head with a baseball bat, raping her and leaving her to die.

In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors said they would recommend a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 30 years for Travis Lee Fischer.

The sentence, set for noon on Nov. 19, is ultimately left to Morgan County Judge Dan Favreau, who had earlier ruled the teen should be tried as an adult for the June 2 rape and murder of 35-year-old Abi S. Matthews, of Malta.

Wednesday's hearing was delayed about 90 minutes after Favreau indicated he planned to accept Fischer's guilty plea and immediately proceed to sentencing. Morgan County Prosecutor Mark Howdyshell requested the sentencing be delayed in order for Matthews' three children, four siblings and parents to be able to attend.

Dressed in an orange prison-issued jumpsuit, Fischer sat at the defense table with a blank expression, staring into space. When addressed by Favreau, Fischer answered questions in a soft, monotone voice, without looking up. Most of the questions required a simple "yes" or "no" response.

"Do you want (a trial) or do you want the court to accept your plea of guilty?" Favreau asked.

"To accept the plea of guilty," Fischer said.

Matthews' mother, Peggy Matthews, of McConnelsville, said Fischer was a boy her daughter knew well and thought of as one of her own. She said Fischer played with Abi's children and often ate with the family and spent the night at their home.

"I still don't understand why. Why is my beautiful Abi in a grave? Why is this young boy going to spend the rest of his life in prison?" she asked.

Peggy Matthews said she understood the plea may leave Fischer eligible for parole and she was satisfied with the agreement.

"I'm OK with it, but no punishment available is equal to what he did to her," she said.

Fischer's mother and several other family members were present in court for the change of plea hearing. He did not turn to look at or speak to them. His family did not speak, but appeared to be emotional and anxious at times.

After the attack, prosecutors said, Fischer fled in Matthew's car, which he later burned just outside of Malta. In addition to murder and rape, Fischer also pleaded guilty to burglary, grand theft and arson.

In exchange for the guilty plea, Howdyshell agreed to dismiss four charges, including robbery, tampering with evidence and two other counts of murder, which would have been alternative options for a jury; however, he could have only been sentenced to one of the counts.