A Cecil Township man accused of killing his wife pleaded guilty to third degree murder on Wednesday.

Richard Dunkovich, 57, made the plea before Washington County Judge Janet Moschetta Bell. He was set to go to trial next week.

Although a sentencing hearing is forthcoming, Washington County District Attorney Chief of Staff Steven Fischer said Dunkovich could spend between 15 and 30 years in prison for the crime.

"We're very satisfied," he said of the case. "The defendant is 57 years old, and this is a fairly lengthy sentence. This very well could be a life sentence for him."

Dunkovich had been charged with the Dec. 10 stabbing death of his wife, Brenda Gaye Dunkovich.

At his preliminary hearing, the prosecution had presented an audio recording of Brenda Dunkovich’s call to Washington County 911 just before midnight on Dec. 10.

“You said your husband attacked you?” the dispatcher had asked Brenda Dunkovich, who was sobbing and breathing heavily.

“Yes,” the woman answered, adding that he also had a gun.

After the dispatcher told Brenda Dunkovich to go somewhere safe in the house, the woman let out a sob and the line disconnected.

The 911 dispatcher then called the Dunkovich’s Papp Road residence and reached Brenda Dunkovich, who said she was in her bedroom and that the door was locked.

“Someone is on the way now,” the dispatcher told her. “I want you to stay calm.”

That’s when Brenda Dunkovich screamed and the line again disconnected.

Three police officers who arrived on scene minutes after the second phone call ended had testified that they heard a woman screaming loudly when they approaching the home.

Cecil Township police officer Jeff Holt had testified that both bedroom doors in the Dunkovich's residence showed signs of forced entry. Holt said an ax was found lying near the door of one of the bedrooms, near where Richard Dunkovich was slumped and bleeding from stab wounds to the abdomen.

Brenda Dunkovich’s body was lying a short distance away. He said she showed no signs of life.

Holt then testified that he asked Richard Dunkovich, “Who did this to you?”

While Holt said Richard Dunkovich gave no verbal response, the man twice pointed toward the body of his wife.

He was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment of abdominal wounds.