FLAGSTAFF, AZ – A man from Arizona admitted to and pleaded guilty to the murder of his wife, Kelly Paduchowski, a mere six days after he reported her missing, according to the Coconino County authorities.
Daniel Paduchowski entered his guilty plea in court on Friday, also accepting charges of tampering with physical evidence, concealment of a dead body, and possession of dangerous drugs.
Significant details of the case, such as the location where Kelly’s remains were found, remain undisclosed. However, it is confirmed that Daniel led authorities to her body, her cell phone, and the murder weapon.
Flagstaff Police Chief Sean Connolly, in a news conference held on Friday, emphasized the swift conclusion of the investigation following the initial report of Kelly’s disappearance.
Court documents show that there were witness accounts of Daniel assaulting Kelly before attempting to wash away the evidence, which piqued investigative suspicions early in the case. While the plea agreement details are silent on a potential motive for the crime, Daniel Paduchowski is expected to receive a sentence of 16 years without parole for the murder charge when sentenced in September.
The search efforts for Kelly involved close to 50 search and rescue team members, local and federal agencies, and around 60 community volunteers.