Sex Offender Pleads In Death Of Park Rapids Woman

PARK RAPIDS - A 21-year-old sex offender faces nearly 28 years in prison for killing a Park Rapids woman in her apartment after meeting her online and having sex with her.

 Harvey D. Leritz of Menahga pleaded guilty Tuesday in Hubbard County to second-degree intentional murder in the Feb. 23 death of Kiela G. Knowles.

Knowles, 19, left behind a 2-year-old son.

The county attorney's office said Leritz will get a sentence called for in state guidelines, with at least two-thirds of the time behind bars and the rest under supervised release.

A criminal complaint said Leritz acknowledged having sex with Knowles and then choking her to death.