Guilty plea made in old killing

The man who came forward in October to say he killed a man 20 years ago in North Las Vegas and wants to be punished, took a step toward that when he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

David Ferrell, 39, pleaded guilty Thursday in District Judge Lee Gates' courtroom to the charges that could make him eligible for parole in five years. Sentencing is set for Feb. 16.

Ferrell first admitted he was responsible for the Nov. 21, 1979, stabbing death of 52-year-old Wilbert F. Wendeburg to police in Long Beach, Calif., who had arrested him for being drunk in public.

Ferrell came back from California and led detectives to the 20-year-old crime scene at 2522 Arrowhead St., in an old North Las Vegas residential area off Civic Center Drive north of City Hall.

North Las Vegas Police said he knew things from that case that wouldn't have been known by someone who wasn't there.

Ferrell also told detectives that the guilt over the killing had eaten at him for 20 years and that he wanted to be punished for his crime.

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