David DeGroat will spend 44 years in prison after pleading guilty in the killing of Army veteran Matthew McLaughlin.

TAOS COUNTY, N.M. – David DeGroat will spend 44 years in prison after pleading guilty in the killing of Army veteran Matthew McLaughlin.

David DeGroat pleaded guilty for his role in McLaughlin’s murder. Investigators said DeGroat and Rainor Joiner lived with McLaughlin in Taos County last year.

McLaughlin was reported missing. When investigators went to search the home, deputies said Joiner told them he shot McLaughlin with DeGroat’s help.

“Then from there after shooting him, like I said in my statement, I dragged his body to a tree,” Joiner said. “From there I went back up to the land, back up to that spot, cut off his head and hands, bagged him up.”

Investigators said Joiner also told deputies he forced DeGroat to help dispose of McLaughlin’s remains in bags along the highway.

According to the plea deal, DeGroat will be sentenced to 44 years. Joiner is set to go to trial in early December.