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Fernley murder suspect pleads guilty

Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000 | 4:06 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

YERINGTON, Nev. - The woman accused of killing a 76-year-old Fernley woman in September during a botched burglary has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and robbery.

Samantha Tubbs, 22, of Silver Springs surprised Lyon County District Attorney Robert Estes with Monday guilty plea in a hastily arranged hearing at Third District Court in Yerington.

He said he always thought there was a possibility of a plea at some point, but he didn't expect it any time this month.

Tubbs had been scheduled to stand trial Feb. 29 in the murder of Ethel Booten, who died of strangulation in her Fernley home Sept. 30.

Tubbs told Lyon District Court Judge Archie Blake that she thought nobody was home when she and Ray Colledge broke into Booten's home. She said a struggle followed and then Booten was dead.

Booten was the mother of Tubbs' former boyfriend, who lived with his mother but was not at home at the time of the murder.

Tubbs faces sentencing Feb. 14 to terms ranging from 20 years to life without possible parole.

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