Posted by Kate Oatis - email
TOLEDO (WTOL) - A Toledo woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to breaking into an elderly woman's home and killing her. Mandi Abdo faces up to 28 years in prison -- rather than a life sentence had the case gone to trial -- when she is sentenced next month.
Abdo, 25, told the judge she broke into 83-year-old Cecilia Sobecki's Austin St. home in February. Once inside, she said she grabbed Sobecki's purse.
Abdo said she and Sobecki tussled and that Sobecki fell to the floor. Abdo said she helped Sobecki to her chair, grabbed her purse once again and left.
Sobecki died days later due to complications from a hip fracture she received in the fall.
According to police, what Abdo didn't say is that she pushed Sobecki down twice and pulled the cord out of Sobecki's phone before leaving.
Abdo's friends are hoping for a light sentence next month.
"I truly believe Mandi did not mean to kill the woman, and I do believe what she had said. She had helped the woman up," said Mary Ervin-Carman.
