A man serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife has confessed to killing a 19-year-old hitchhiker in 1991, bringing closure to a case that went cold for decades.
Rick Allen Headley, 48, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Sabrina Underwood. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison, to be served consecutively to his life sentence.
Underwood's remains were found near Little Rock in 1991, but her killer remained unidentified until recently. In 2022, a tip led to Headley, who confessed to the crime in detail.
Headley told investigators that he picked up Underwood hitchhiking and agreed to give her a ride. She made sexual advances towards him, and when he refused, she threatened to accuse him of assaulting her.
Fearing she would ruin his life, Headley attacked Underwood and dragged her into a wooded area. He used a knife to decapitate her and then concealed her body.
Headley expressed remorse for the killing and said he hoped no one else would be wrongly accused. He said he confessed to get it "off his chest" and to bring closure to Underwood's family.
Underwood's family expressed relief that her killer was finally brought to justice. They said they hope his confession will help them find peace and move forward.
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