Lipka Pleads Guilty In Death of 16-Year-Old Girl

20-year-old Steven Lipka has pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the June strangulation death of a Vestal girl.

According to the Broome County District Attorney's Office, Lipka has admitted he caused the June 14th death of 16-year-old Shelby Jenkins.

Jenkins was found unresponsive in the basement of Lipka's home on Westland Road in Vestal. She was pronounced dead at Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City.

Investigators say Jenkins had been Lipka's girlfriend.

Under the plea deal, Lipka is to be sentenced to eighteen years in prison and five years post-release supervision.

Lipka is scheduled to be sentenced on December 14.