As a warning, this story clearly mentions instances of sexual assault and murder.

On December 14, the 20-year-old Jordan Mark of Quinhagak pleaded guilty to the murder of 10-year-old Ida “Girlie” Aguchak in 2020. His admission of guilt was part of a plea agreement with the prosecutor, which in turn reduced his minimum sentence.

In an exciting scene at Bethel Court, Ada's father hugs her mother while she is crying. The parents of the deceased have just heard that the murderer of their daughter pleaded guilty in court. Fairbanks Superior Court Judge Michael Macdonald read the allegations over the phone.

"It is alleged that on or about March 15, 2020, you committed first-degree murder in Quinhagak or its vicinity, deliberately causing the death of others. What is your request for Mr. Mark's charges?" McDonald said.

"Plead guilty, Your Honor," Mark replied.

Mark was also accused of raping a 10-year-old victim, but the rape charge was dropped as part of the prosecution's plea agreement. As part of the transaction, he did admit to all rape allegations.

Mark signed a confession of fact, claiming that he kidnapped, raped and killed Ada at the age of 19 and tried to cover up evidence. In his confession, Mark said he let Ada take a ride home. Then he took her to other places in Quinhagak and strangled her to death. After he believed she was dead, he raped her, took her body to the garbage dump, and put her in a garbage bag. But then he said that he heard her crying and realized that she was still alive. He removed her body, stabbed her, and put her back in his bag.

Mark, his lawyer and the presiding judge MacDonald attended the hearing. The prosecutor, the public and Ada's parents were all present. Aida's father, Luther Aguchak, said that the past year and a half after his daughter's death has been very difficult.

"There is a lot of mourning. Every morning is empty," Aguchak said.

But today, hearing Mark's voice, Aguchak felt a little irritated.

"My heart is full of anger. I certainly hope he can live to 99, because that is just a baby we just lost," Aguchak said.

Ada's mother and Aguchak's girlfriend Betty Williams attended the hearing wearing bright red beaded earrings in the shape of a red dress. The red dress can symbolize missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, Williams said she wore them to commemorate her daughter. She said that hearing Mark's confession will help her start to get rid of her lost life.

"It makes it more real, because some days I think I will wake up from this, my child, we still have her. This is another stone towards recovery," Williams said.

Mark’s guilty plea means that the case will not enter the trial stage, and Mark’s imprisonment time will be slightly reduced. The next and final case on the court’s agenda is sentencing, which is currently scheduled for June 13. Mark will face 30 to 99 years in prison, which is 36.5 years less than the shortest time he faced before pleading guilty.