FOLEY, Ala. — A 26-year-old Foley man will be sentenced May 20, 2010, for the strangulation death of his girlfriend after pleading guilty last week before a Baldwin County Circuit Court judge.

Jontez Torrell Holt confessed to strangling his girlfriend, Quintessa Shaylene Pickens, with a jump rope. Her body was discovered by her mother in January 2009 at Victoria Place apartments on South Juniper Street.

“There was no plea agreement between the state and him,” Lt. David White, commander of Foley Police Department’s Criminal Invesigative Division, said this week. White was on hand for Holt’s appearance before Judge James Reid last week.

“They were boyfriend and girlfriend. They had an argument and he strangled her,” White said.

“We’re glad we were able to come to a resolution. We were happy to put this case to a quick resolution and the victim’s family not have to re-live it through a trial,” White said.

In connection with Pickens’ death on Jan. 20, 2009, the victim’s body was discovered by her mother after the mother confronted Holt when she couldn’t locate her daughter. She forcibly entered her daughter’s apartment and found her dead. When Foley police arrived at the scene they discovered signs of assault on Pickens’ body and signs of a struggle inside the apartment.

According to a news release issued then by Foley Police Department in connection with the death, Holt was suspected of leaving the area of the crime on foot. He was later detained by Elberta police when they spotted him walking around 1 a.m. An autopsy revealed Pickens died from strangulation, which matched Holt’s confession that he strangled her with a jump rope.