Just moments before his trial was set to commence, a Georgia man confessed to the murder of a woman that occurred in her garage three years ago.

Antonio Brown, aged 26, submitted a non-negotiated plea on Monday, coinciding with the start date for his murder trial. Brown admitted to the fatal stabbing of 77-year-old Eleanor “Ellen” Bowles, who came across Brown in the act of attempting to steal her SUV on December 10, 2022. According to reports, Bowles confronted Brown inside her Buckhead, Georgia, residence around 11:30 a.m. He then stabbed her multiple times before fleeing in her Lexus SUV, as police had stated at the time.

Her lifeless body was discovered on the garage floor by her adult son, who had arrived at the gated community for a holiday visit with his mother.

As reported by local Fox affiliate WAGA, prosecutors had an array of evidence ready to present to the jury, implicating Brown. This included video footage showing him driving away in Bowles’ SUV and DNA traces found on the murder weapon. Authorities were already searching for Brown, who, according to prosecutors, had committed a liquor store robbery prior to targeting Bowles’ home.

Prosecutors revealed that Brown inflicted more than a dozen stab wounds on Bowles, leaving her to die on her garage floor. Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Sperry noted that the medical examiner intended to testify that Bowles “fought the person that tried to keep her from being able to have that Christmas, which she had been preparing for.”

Local ABC affiliate WSB was also in the courtroom for heartbreaking statements made by Bowles’ family. Michael Bowles, the son who found her body, told the court, “She was in her favorite pajamas. That image will be with me forever. I’ve never seen so much blood in my entire life.” He added, “That moment completely turned my life upside down.”

After entering his plea, Brown apologized to the victim’s family. He said, “I don’t think anyone should have to go through what happened to her.”

Brown had been indicted on 12 charges including felony murder, armed robbery, and burglary. A judge handed Brown two life sentences with the possibility of parole in 60 years.