Tulare man pleads guilty to murder

A 45-year-old Tulare man pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree murder and will be sentenced to 66 years to life in prison, the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office said.

Jimmy Ansiel attacked Roma Reid, 68, of Tulare, in the entryway of her Tulare home on Oct. 21, the prosecutor’s office said.

Ansiel hit her in the head with a blunt object, and then killed her by beating and strangling her, the office said.

Blood found on his clothing matched the victim’s DNA.

The murder charge included special allegations of a prior strike, elder abuse and use of a deadly weapon.

No motive was stated, but Ansiel also pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree residential burglary.

According to news reports, Reid was discovered dead by Tulare police checking on her after she failed to attend an appointment. Ansiel was arrested about two weeks later in Byron, west of Stockton.

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 22.

This story was originally published December 22, 2015 at 5:21 PM with the headline "Tulare man pleads guilty to murder."