Robert Nelson pleads guilty in Shirley Cagle murder

The man accused of slaying Shirley Cagle, the long-time assistant director of the Ouachita Council on Aging, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, probation or suspension of sentence.

Robert Nelson Jr., 26, accepted a plea deal after initially pleading not guilty in May.

The state would have sought the death penalty in a trial, Assistant District Attorney Neal Johnson said. By pleading guilty, Nelson has waived his right to a trial.

"This was the fastest means of closure. I was prepared to file the notice of intent to seek the death penalty and he was aware of that and decided to plead guilty. The evidence was very strong in this case. As with any first degree (murder) case, you have to weigh the expense and time and impact on families going through the trial process as opposed to immediate closure," Johnson said.

Cagle, 85, was killed in her Isabelle Street home in Monroe on April 23.

Johnson said the coroner reported two major injuries that could have caused Cagle's death — a blow to her face with a blunt object and a cut on her throat.

Nelson was arrested early April 24 by Monroe police when they responded to a burglary complaint at Fort Miro apartments on Oliver Road.

Police said while they were questioning Nelson about the burglary, he confessed to killing Cagle during a burglary at her Isabelle Street home, which is near Oliver Road. Police said Nelson told them he didn't mean to kill her.

Monroe police and firefighters then went to Cagle's home, where they found her body and evidence of arson. Police believe Nelson tried to burn Nelson's home after her death to conceal evidence, but he was unsuccessful.

Police said Nelson's grandmother was friends with Cagle and that he knew her. There was no sign of forced entry into Cagle's home.

Cagle's body was found in the back room of her home. Police believe Nelson stole a TV from Cagle.