ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WAVY) — A woman charged with stabbing and killing a teenager in Elizabeth City has pleaded guilty and is facing a lengthy prison sentence.
Morgan Lynn McDonald entered a plea agreement Tuesday in the case, pleading guilty to to second-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Summer Waaga.
She was originally charged with first-degree murder for Waaga’s death.
Police said Waaga died after being stabbed in the neck in March of 2016. Officers later arrested McDonald near Elizabeth City State University.
Christine Ackermann, Waaga’s mother, said the teen was hanging out with friends at a house on Butlers Lane the morning of the stabbing.
“Summer got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Ackermann said in 2016. “By no means did she live there.”
McDonald was sentenced Tuesday to 25-31 years in prison.