HARRISBURG — In Bedford County Court, 30-year-old Derek Louk has pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in connection with the killing of Tyler Matthai last year and subsequent burning of his body. Louk also pleaded guilty to abuse of a corpse.
Louk is set to serve 15 to 30 years in prison as per the plea agreement terms. Bedford County Judge Travis B. Livengood accepted the plea and will formally order the sentence on September 22.
The guilty plea stems from an incident on April 26, last year, when Louk fatally shot Matthai, then conspired with two others to burn the body and conceal the crime. Louk has remained incarcerated since his arrest.
“The defendant not only pulled the trigger, he then conspired to conceal his horrific crimes by destroying the evidence — the victim’s body,” said Attorney General Michelle Henry. “With this plea, he is accepting responsibility for such senseless acts of violence and disregard for human life.”
Two others, Courtney S. Boden and Jordon Robertson, have also pleaded guilty to assisting in burning the body and the cover-up. Boden has been sentenced to 2¼ to 12 years in prison, while Robertson is awaiting sentencing.