Ito Lightford, 40, of Newark, pleaded guilty to a murder charge in the Sept. 24, 2014 killing of 34-year-old Talia Capri Nesmith
NEWARK --A Newark man admitted today to fatally stabbing the mother of a one-year-old girl in a city home last year, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced.
Ito Lightford, 40, pleaded guilty to a murder charge in the Sept. 24, 2014 killing of Talia Capri Nesmith, 34, of Newark, according to a news release from the prosecutor's office.
Under a plea deal, prosecutors have agreed to recommend a 30-year state prison sentence for Lightford, authorities said. Lightford would have to serve the entire prison term before he is eligible for parole, and he will receive credit for time served.
His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 26 before Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler.
Ito Lightford Authorities said Lightford lived in a basement apartment for two years in the Goldsmith Avenue home where Nesmith lived on the second floor. Nesmith lived in the apartment with her grandmother for more than a decade until her grandmother's death in January 2014.
Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Paul Bradley, who handled the case, said in the release that Lightford wanted to date Nesmith and became increasingly obsessed with her.
On the day of killing, Lightford called 911 and told police someone had broke into the house, authorities said. During the investigation, detectives obtained a statement from Lightford and recovered the murder weapon and bloody clothes, Bradley said.
"This case was so well investigated by detectives Mario Suarez and Bruce Branch that the defendant had no choice but to enter into this plea agreement," Bradley said in the release. "They built a really strong case."
The release added that "Bradley said he hopes the relatively swift resolution of the case provides a measure of comfort to the family."
Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.