EPHRATA — Juan Gastelum, the suspect in the March 2022 killing of Yanira Cedillos, changed his plea from not guilty to guilty March 3. He is now scheduled for an April 28 sentencing hearing.

According to court documentation, Gastelum, 32, of Hermiston, Ore., pleaded guilty to Murder in the Second Degree with Sexual Motivation. The minimum sentence Gastelum may receive under the law is two years in prison, but the maximum is life imprisonment and up to a $50,000 fine. However, the sentencing hearing is under Special Set Sentencing, an option under Washington state law which allows adjustments to sentencing if a suspect pleads guilty.

Washington state does not have a death penalty after a 2018 Washington Supreme Court ruling that found the death penalty to be unconstitutional due to arbitrary and racially biased application. Subsequently, in 2023, Senate Bill 5087 was signed into law, formally removing the death penalty from state statutes. Washington is one of 23 states that does not have a death penalty.

Gastelum and Cedillos had been involved in a romantic relationship, which had ended. However, Cedillos went missing the night of her birthday celebration in early March 2022. Moses Lake Police Department detectives had found a variety of evidence at Cedillos’ apartment, indicating she had likely been killed. According to court documents and statements from investigators, evidence on Gastelum’s cell phone was a key element in the case. Cedillos had been communicating with Gastelum and they had, reportedly, gone to her apartment together after she left her birthday celebration.

Gastelum was arrested in Hermiston about a week after Cedillos’ death. Cedillos’ remains were later found at the Wallula Game Department Reserve off State Route 12, according to court documents.

Gastelum had initially entered a not guilty plea. He is being held without bond at the Grant County Jail.