After spending almost three years in Lew Sterrett awaiting trial on charges he murdered his landlord, Christian Colbert this week pleaded guilty and waived his right to a jury trial in exchange for a sentence of 25 years in the state penitentiary. Time served, dating back to March 2016, is included in the 25-year sentence.

Colbert is charged with the murder of his Oak Cliff housemate, Ron Shumway. After Shumway’s death, Colbert buried his body in the backyard under a layer of cement. He assumed Shumway’s identity and sold the house. No one reported Shumway missing and his body wasn’t discovered for about six months.

Colbert left Dallas and was found living in a mobile home in Los Angeles after Dallas Voice passed a tip along to police. Colbert was an employee of Dallas Voice in the early 2000s.

Colbert had been scheduled to go to trial several times, but the trial was delayed several times because of disagreements with his court-appointed attorney. His recent court filings asked for a mental evaluation.

Before his extradition back to Dallas, Colbert admitted to detectives that he committed the crime. But once he was back in Dallas, he changed his tune and said he was not guilty. Most recently, Colbert wanted to plead “not guilty by reason of self defense.”

— David Taffet