SPOKANE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced late Tuesday his office obtained a guilty plea to murder from the man accused of bludgeoning his girlfriend to death in front of their 3-year-old son.

Manuel Argomaniz-Camargo pleaded guilty today to first-degree murder, with a deadly weapon enhancement, and possession of methamphetamine. His sentencing hearing is set for Oct. 4 in Adams County Superior Court, and the Attorney General’s Office will ask for the top end of his standard sentencing range: 27 years, 9 months, plus another two years for the deadly weapon enhancement.

“Keeping our communities safe from violent offenders is one of my top priorities,” Ferguson said. “Today’s guilty plea holds the defendant accountable for his horrible crime, brings a measure of justice for the victim, and spares her family the ordeal of a trial.”

Argomaniz-Camargo attacked and killed his girlfriend, Ana Montelongo Garcia, on Interstate 90 near Ritzville in March of this year.

The Attorney General’s Office was prosecuting the case at the request of the Adams County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The case is being handled by Assistant Attorneys General Melanie Tratnik and John Hillman.