CROWN POINT | Sharde McKinney, 22, of Merrillville, pleaded guilty Friday to murder and attempted murder for the 2007 death of a 45-year-old Gary woman.

McKinney slit the throat of Nina Moss-Curtis Sept. 9, 2007, in her home in the 4000 block of Tennessee Street, forced her 13-year-old son to help clean up the blood, then abducted and stabbed the boy, Lake Criminal Court records state.

Nearly 20 members of Moss-Curtis' family listened to McKinney admit Friday that he killed her. The family members declined comment after the hearing.

Lake Criminal Court Judge Clarence Murray accepted McKinney's guilty plea.

McKinney's other felony charges of confinement, two counts of battery and auto theft will be dropped under the plea agreement with Lake County prosecutors. McKinney could face up to 115 years in prison under the agreement.

The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced at 10:30 a.m. May 2.