SALEM, OR (KPTV) -
A Salem police cold case investigation has led to a guilty plea in a 31-year-old murder case.
William Smith, 53, pleaded guilty Thursday to the murder of Terri Monroe, 22, on Feb. 13, 1981.
Monroe had been at the Museum Tavern, 2395 Front St. NE, Salem, with a group of friends that night. She stepped outside for some fresh air and never returned.
Her clothing and identification were found near the Willamette River outside the tavern, but her body wasn't discovered until March 15, 1981 about a mile down the river.
An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be homicidal asphyxiation. No suspect was arrested and the case went cold.
A cold case team of investigators reopened the case in January 2012. Based on reviews of the evidence and follow-up interviews, Smith was identified as a suspect and charged with murder.
On Thursday, according to the Marion County District Attorney's Office, Smith waived his right to have the case presented to a grand jury and pleaded guilty to the murder of Monroe.
Smith was already behind bars serving life sentences for the 1982 murder of Sherry Everly and the 1984 murders of Rebecca Darling and Katherine Redmond.
He was given another life sentence in prison after pleading guilty Thursday.
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