Vadnais Heights man pleads guilty to killing family
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A 43-year-old man has pleaded guilty to killing his wife and two of their children at the family's apartment in Vadnais Heights.
Justus Ogendi Kebabe on Friday pleaded guilty in Ramsey County District Court to three counts of second-degree intentional murder.
Kebabe faces a maximum of 50 years in prison but will not be sentenced until Jan. 14.
Kebabe's wife, Bilha Omare, and two children -- 9-year-old Ivyn Ogendi and 12-year-old Kinley Ogendi -- were found dead in the family's apartment after sheriff's deputies checked on their welfare.
Kebabe admitted he hit Omare in the head with a golf club and strangled her. He told authorities he put Tylenol PM in juice and had the two children drink it. He then held Kinley's head under water in the bathtub and smothered Ivyn with a pillow and also strangled her.
Kebabe was arrested shortly after the bodies were discovered. State troopers arrested him on Interstate 35 near Faribault, where his car had stalled.
His 3-year-old daughter was with him and wasn't hurt.
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