CLEVELAND — A Parma man who murdered a Cleveland State University employee and his girlfriend last year took a plea deal Tuesday to avoid the death penalty.
James Hill, 42, pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and aggravated robbery charges, according to Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas records.
Police had accused Hill of killing Harold Emery Jr., 63 and Emery’s girlfriend, Rita Berish, 54, during a home invasion in June 2018. CSU police went to Emery's house when he didn't show up for work.
As part of the deal, Hill won't be sentenced until the end of the trial for his co-defendant, Barbara Wolford. Hill is expected to be given a sentence of 35 years-to-life, according to court records.
Wolford is currently facing aggravated murder charges in connection with the same incident. She has a pretrial scheduled for Thursday at 11 a.m.
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