ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Just days before a decades-old cold case trial was set to begin, one of the two suspects in the 1988 Baby Jane Doe case has plead guilty. Ulyster Sanders appeared before Chief Judge Denise Marshall today, asking for both a plea deal and bond.

Although she approved Sanders’s plea deal, Judge Marshall made it clear that because the trial is set to start Monday, August 11, she will not be granting bond.

Sanders who was accused of helping his then partner, Evelyn Odom, hide her daughter’s dead body has pled guilty to one count of concealing material facts and one count of concealing the death of another.

For over three decades, Odom’s daughter was known as “Baby Jane Doe,” but with DNA evidence, she was identified as Kenyatta “KeKe” Odom in 2023.

In November 2023, Sanders and Odom were arrested, nearly 35 years after investigators believe Kenyatta was killed.

Kenyatta’s remains were found in the woods in Ware County, encased in a television cabinet with concrete poured inside in December 1988.

According to court records, Kenyatta died from having parts of her body put in hot water and burned.

Acknowledging his role in Kenyatta’s death, Sanders accepted the plea deal, admitting to:

• Concealing Material Facts, including:
  • Failure to report serious injury to EMS/911
  • Failure to refuse medical treatment
  • Agreement with Evelyn Odom to not contact EMS
  • Failure to report life threatening burns to EMS
• Concealing the Death of Another, including:
  • Transporting child out of DOCO to further prevent discovery
  • Placing child in concrete
  • Failure to notify authorities
  • Hindering the discovery of the victim

If convicted, Sanders could face up to six years behind bars. The sentence would factor in the 22 months that he has already spent in jail while awaiting trial.

Today also marks the second time that Sanders requested bond. The first time was in June of this year. Both times, bond has been denied.

Trail for Evelyn Odom is still on track to start next week, with Odom facing charges of:

• Felony murder
• First-degree cruelty to children
• Aggravated battery
• Conspiracy to commit a crime
• Concealing the death of another

During the trial, Sanders is expected to testify against Odom.

Judge Marshall should have a verdict in that trial and sentences for both defendants by August 23.

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