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The man who shot and killed 19-year-old Megan Metzger in 2018—prior to the horrific dismemberment of her body—was ordered Friday to serve 40 years in prison.

David Weston Newton, 22, of Spotsylvania County, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in Spotsylvania Circuit Court. He shot Metzger in the face on July 17, 2018, at a home on Post Oak Road after mistakenly thinking that a pretrial services card a codefendant found while rummaging through Metzger’s purse was evidence that she was a police informant.

As part of a plea agreement accepted by Judge William Glover, Newton was sentenced to life in prison with all but 40 years suspended. Eight other felony charges were dropped as part of the deal.

Newton had been scheduled for a three-day jury trial next month.

According to evidence presented in multiple court hearings, Metzger drove to the home of Robert Keating that day to meet up with Newton. At least six other people were also hanging out at the residence.

At some point, Keating went through the Pamplin resident’s purse and found the card. Newton then confronted Metzger in the basement of the home with at least two others looking on. He pointed a gun at her and fired while saying, “You’re a [expletive] narc.”