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SALT LAKE CITY — A man pleaded guilty Monday to aggravated murder in the 2008 killing of a school teacher.
Charles Richard Gunkel, 55, pleaded guilty before 3rd District Judge William Barrett to stabbing and killing his former girlfriend, Molly Robbins, a 51-year-old elementary school teacher and mother of five, inside her home in Magna.
Prosecutors said Gunkel forced his way past Robbins' 14-year-old daughter on Aug. 8, 2008, and entered her house, where he pinned Robbins to the ground and choked her before stabbing her five times in the abdomen.
In exchange for his plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss charges of aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony, and aggravated assault, a third-degree felony.
The two had an on-again, off-again romance for five years. Robbins' daughter testified that the two had broken up about a month before the killing. She said Gunkel came to the door of the house and asked Robbins, "Are you married?" to her mother, who answered no. She said he then asked, "Are you going to get married?" to which her mother replied, "Yes."
The teen ran into her mother's bedroom after hearing cries from her mother. "He said, 'I'm going to jail anyway,' and he told me to call 911 afterward," she testified.
Gunkel will be sentenced July 7. Prosecutors will ask Barrett to sentence him to 20 years to life in prison.
Email:averzello@ksl.com
