Army specialist pleads guilty in female soldier’s slaying

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – An Army specialist has pleaded guilty in the killing of a Fort Campbell soldier and could face life in prison without parole.

The Leaf-Chronicle reports that Spc. Charles Robinson III pleaded guilty at his court-martial Thursday to murder, conspiracy and obstruction of justice in the death of Pfc. Shadow McClaine. The post on the Kentucky-Tennessee line houses the 101st Airborne Division.

Robinson said he was supposed to be paid $10,000 by McClaine’s ex-husband to kill her and help hide the body. Robinson said he used a box cutter and a knife to kill her but Sgt. Jamal Williams-McCray paid him only $200.

McClaine went missing in September 2016. Her remains were found in January and flown home to Yuba City, California, in February. A court-martial hasn’t been set for Williams-McCray. It wasn’t known if he had a lawyer who could comment.