Man Accused of Central Idaho Murder Accepts Plea

KETCHUM, Idaho (AP) — A central Idaho man accused of second-degree murder has pleaded guilty.

The Idaho Mountain Express reports that Keith Blankenship on Tuesday pleaded guilty to a single felony count of failure to notify a coroner or law enforcement of a death with intent to prevent discovery of the manner of death. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Blankenship had previously had a trial for murder and destruction of evidence end in a mistrial in connection to the death of 47-year-old Stephan Michael Romanchuk. As part of the plea agreement the state has agreed to drop the other charges. Police say they found Romanchuk's decomposing body in Blankenship's backyard.