A Minnesota man admitted to killing his former girlfriend just days after he was released from jail last summer for assaulting her, according to reports.
Matthew Brenneman, 40, pleaded guilty in a Hennepin County Courtroom on Monday to second-degree murder while under a restraining order, KARE-TV reported.
He also admitted to two aggravating factors: killing Danicka Bergeson, 33, in the privacy of her own bedroom and treating her with particular cruelty by allowing her body to decompose after death, the outlet reported.
In exchange for his plea, prosecutors and Brenneman's defense team agreed on a prison sentence of 23 years. He is set to be sentenced Aug. 23.
"We were hoping for a plea with a much stronger sentence, you know, upwards, closer to the 30. But maybe some play in there. But, you know, we certainly thought that we could get a stronger sentencing," David Bergeson, Bergeson's father, told KMSP-TV.
Bergeson's body was discovered on July 8, 2023, in her apartment by police who also found Brenneman in the home.
He was taken to a hospital after ingesting bleach.
Police also found a note that Brenneman had written on the kitchen table, proclaiming his love for Bergeson, saying that he "can't try to live after this," KARE reported, citing court documents.
Brenneman had pleaded guilty to two cases of domestic assault in June 2023 and had been released pending sentencing the following month and had been ordered to stay away from Bergeson.
Brenneman's lawyer said his client visited Bergeson at her apartment despite the order prohibiting contacting her and the two watched July Fourth fireworks, KARE reported. At some point the two began arguing in a dispute that turned physical.
