Aurora teen admits guilt in Bethell murder

An Aurora teen pleaded guilty Friday to murdering a 47-year-old woman and dumping her body in the woods when he was 14 years old.

Gareng P. Deng, 17, was sentenced to 35 years in prison after admitting to a charge of first-degree murder in the Halloween 2005 slaying of Marilyn Bethell of Aurora.

"Mr. Deng, you have affected many lives by your actions," Kane County Associate Judge Allen M. Anderson said after accepting the plea bargain. "I hope you reflect on that over the next 35 years."

Authorities have said Deng, a Sudanese immigrant and former Waubonsie Valley High School student, did not know Bethell, but lived about a mile away from her and had targeted her home on the 2500 block of Quail Court for a break-in.

On Oct. 31, 2005, police said, the teen entered Bethell's house and kidnapped her at gunpoint. Her body was found shot "execution-style" two months later in a wooded area along the Illinois Prairie Path east of Kirk Road in Batavia Township.

Among the evidence against Deng was a list of sexually explicit Web sites that had been visited on Bethell's home computer the day she went missing and a tissue containing Deng's semen nearby, prosecutors have said.

Authorities say forensic evidence suggested Bethell was shot in the back of the head shortly after her disappearance. Coroner's officials were unable to determine whether she was sexually assaulted.

Bethell, formerly of Downers Grove, had become a certified substance abuse counselor in Hoffman Estates just months before her death.

Assistant Kane County State's Attorney Jodi Gleason, who prosecuted the case, had no comment Friday. Defense attorney Eric Mitchell said he would not comment until after Deng's 30-day window to appeal the case has passed.

Deng received 793 days credit for time served in jail while awaiting trial. By state statute, he must complete the full 35-year sentence and has no chance at an early release.