COVINGTON — An evidence-suppression hearing in the capital murder of Delta pilot Stephen Craven took a dramatic turn Friday afternoon when one of the three co-defendants pleaded guilty.

        Rusty McIntire, 33, of Erlanger, who law enforcement officials said was Adele Craven's lover, changed his plea to guilty and avoided the death penalty.

        In a conditional plea agreement with state Prosecutor Luke Morgan, Mr. McIntire will cooperate in exchange for a sentence recommendation of life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years.

        “I participated in the murder of Stephen Craven,” Mr. McIntire said, while sitting in shackles.

        When asked by the judge if he felt uncomfortable making the statement while his two co-defendants were in the courtroom, Mr. McIntire said, “Judge, the truth is the truth, and you can't hide the truth from anyone.”

        The co-defendants are Mrs. Craven — Mr. McIntire's reputed lover and wife of the murdered pilot — and Ronald Pryor, a former car washer from Independence, whom investigators say was hired as a “hit man.”

        Mr. Craven, who was beaten and shot, was found dead in the basement of his Edgewood home last July.

        Kenton Circuit Judge Patricia Summe called the guilty plea “somewhat of a surprise.” She found out about the plea agreement hours before the 1 p.m. hearing. The state attorney general's staff said that office was informed of the change of plea at 10:30 p.m. Thursday.

        Judge Summe said she understood that Mr. McIntire relied on advice from his father when making decisions. Mr. McIntire's father, also named Russell, was at the hearing but declined to answer questions from reporters.

        “He (Rusty McIntire) is very close to his family and didn't want to put them through the stress of a death penalty case,” said Mr. McIntire's attorney, Rodney D. Barnes.

        Mr. Barnes, a public defender from the Department of Public Advocacy in Frankfort, became a co-counsel for Mr. McIntire about three weeks ago. Judge Summe said it was her understanding that Mr. McIntire had had a disagreement with his original attorney, Jon Alig of Covington. Mr. Alig left court before the hearing was over and could not be reached for comment.

        According to Mr. Barnes, his client didn't actively commit a murder but was complicitous to a murder. Police have testified that Mr. McIntire helped recruit former co-worker Mr. Pryor to kill Mr. Craven for $1,000 and the promise of $14,000 more.

        Mr. McIntire's cooperation with investigators helped break the case, police said.

        As part of the agreement, Mr. McIntire will be moved from the Kenton County Jail to another jail to await sentencing. Mr. McIntire, Mrs. Craven and Mr. Pryor are all being held at the Kenton County Jail. The elder Mr. McIntire has agreed to pay any additional costs associated with incarcerating his son outside the county.

        Sentencing for Mr. McIntire is scheduled for November, after the trials of Mrs. Craven and Mr. Pryor. Their murder trial is scheduled to begin in October. It is unclear whether the two will be tried together. The judge has ruled that each will be tried separately, but the prosecutor told the court late Friday that he intends to file a motion to try both cases together.

        Rebecca Lytle, a Frankfort public defender who represents Mr. Pryor, said she wasn't surprised by the guilty plea. She wouldn't comment when asked how the plea might affect her case.

        Mrs. Craven's attorney, Deanna Dennison of Covington, said she will know better how her case is going when the judge rules on her motion to suppress evidence gathered at the crime scene. The hearing on the motion to suppress is to be concluded June 22.

        “We are really pleased in the guilty plea,” said Stephen Craven's brother, Bill, 43, of Atlanta. “We are extremely pleased with the work of (Kenton County Police) Detective Wayne Wallace and prosecutor Luke Morgan.”

        Bill Craven, 43, traveled to Covington with his mother to attend the hearing. He has custody of the Cravens' two sons.

        “I think there is a lot of evidence yet to be heard that is very powerful,” Bill Craven said.

        A typed statement that detailed Mr. McIntire's involvement in the murder was sealed by Judge Summe, who said it could hamper jury selection.

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