A man who pleaded guilty to charges related to the killing of a North Royalton woman and her two daughters in 2017 is not eligible for a sentence of life in prison and will be sentenced to death next month, judges decided at a hearing Monday.
George Brinkman entered a guilty plea on Friday, Nov. 9 after waiving a jury trial in favor of a bench trial before three judges.
Brinkman was accused of killing Susanne Taylor and her daughters, Taylor Pifer and Kylie Pifer. He is accused of cutting Taylor's throat with a knife, strangling 18-year-old Kylie Pifer with a telephone cord, and smothering 21-year-old Taylor Pifer with a pillow.
He is also facing charges in a different court for a double homicide. He is accused of murdering a couple in Lake Township.
The judges heard evidence, including testimony from the step-father of the victims, a detective, and two FBI agents, as well as a confession video played in court.
In spite of mitigating factors such as pleading guilty and accepting a bench trial to save the family of the victims from a jury trial, the judges decided that the aggravating circumstances of the case precluded the possibility of a sentence of life in prison.
Brinkman will be officially sentenced on Dec. 28 at 10 a.m.
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