Man admits killing two women, raping children

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

A sex offender accused of killing two women more than 15 years ago and raping children pleaded guilty Monday to hundreds of charges, crying when some of his surviving victims addressed him.

“I’m not a monster. I feel a lot of remorse,” Elias Acevedo said in the hushed courtroom as some of his child-rape victims, now adults, and relatives of the women watched, some wiping away tears. “I love you all, and God bless you.”

Acevedo sobbed into a tissue as three rape victims clutched one another and addressed him in front of the judge: “You robbed me of my childhood,” one victim said. “You hurt so many people.”

Acevedo, 49, agreed to plead guilty to 297 counts, including murdering the women and kidnapping and raping children. He accepted a life prison term under the plea deal.

The two 20-years-to-life sentences for aggravated murder and sentences for other crimes total 445 years, the judge said.