20-year-old pleads guilty to stabbing and killing Ronald Kunkle in 2013  

CEDAR RAPIDS - A 20-year-old admitted Friday to stabbing and killing Ronald Kunkle in 2013 for $2,000.

D Anthony Curd of Cedar Rapids, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and second-degree robbery in Linn County District Court. He was originally charged with first-degree murder.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Mary Chicchelly told Curd he faces up to 60 years on the two charges and another five years for a probation revocation. He was on probation for third-degree burglary in another case at the time he killed Kunkle.

Curd's 15-year-old girlfriend at the time, Daimonay Richardson, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in July for her part in Kunkle's murder. Richardson, now 16, is serving 25 years in prison.

Curd during the hearing admitted to acting with 'malice aforethought” when he stabbed Kunkle, 22, and killed him in his apartment May 18, 2013. He also admitted it was his intent to steal the money and planned to kill Kunkle.

According to a previous testimony in the Richardson case, she and Curd armed themselves with steak knives and planned to rob and kill Kunkle for the money. Curd apparently distracted Kunkle by playing beer pong while Richardson came up behind Kunkle and stabbed him in the neck. Curd then joined in the attack and stabbed Kunkle over 30 times in the head, neck, torso and right thigh.

Richardson said she and Curd put Kunkle's body into the bathroom, opened the window and turned on a fan to conceal the crime. Richardson said she poured bleach over his body and in other areas of the apartment in an attempt to destroy evidence. Kunkle's body wasn't found by police until June 10, 2013.

Richardson, testifying at her two day sentencing, said she met Kunkle through Curd. She didn't know Kunkle and had no reason to harm him. She said Curd came home mad that day and told her Kunkle had $2,000 and he said they were going to have to kill him.

Richardson as part of her plea agreement would have testified against Curd at this trial.

Chicchelly set sentencing for Curd Dec. 12. He will have to serve at least, 70 percent of murder and robbery sentence or 42 years, before being eligible for parole. If the sentences are ran consecutively, he faces up to 65 years, which includes the probation revocation.

Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden said he will ask the judge to run the sentences consecutively.