Man accused of rest stop murder wants to plead guilty

The Nebraska man accused of killing a maintenance worker at an I-80 rest stop in May said in a letter Friday he wants to plead guilty to first-degree murder.

This is the third letter Peter Riggs, 32, of Columbus, Neb., has submitted to the court. He confessed to shooting Jeffrey McAdam, 46, of Victor, in a letter Oct. 14. Riggs said he shot McAdam because he hated him.

McAdam was shot while working at the Victor rest stop May 29. He was found shot in the men's restroom.

Riggs first letter to the court was filed in September. He said in that letter he wanted to plead guilty to the charge and admitted his guilt.  He also wanted to fire his attorney, Johnson County Public Defender Peter Persaud, but a few weeks later withdrew that motion and said he wanted to go ahead with the trial.

There hasn't been a hearing set in Iowa County District Court to address the latest letter. His trial remains set Dec. 14.