A soon to be 19-year-old Benton City resident plead guilty in Benton County Superior Court Monday to premeditated first-degree murder in the death of 55-year-old Michael Edwards last September.

Noah M. Matlack admitted fatally stabbing the man September 8th in the parking lot of the Assembly of God church in Benton City.   Matlack's co-defendant, 20-year-old Noel A. Gonzalez, said he knew Matlack was planning to rob Edwards, but he didn't see the stabbing.

Edwards was found behind behind a shed, and had sustained at least 26 knife wounds, according to the prosecution.  The two suspects had planned to rob Edwards of some valuables, including rare coins, then take the money from selling them and flee the Northwest.

They were arrested near Stanfield, OR after trying to see the coins.

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