PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia man accused of stabbing a teen girl 77 times has rejected a plea deal offered by the city's district attorney. Now, his trial date has been set.

Prosecutors say Cole Herring met 15-year-old Sabriya McLean on social media. During a sexual encounter, he tied her up and duct taped her mouth.

When she tried to escape, he repeatedly stabbed her, and then he set her body on fire in a back alley.

McLean’s body was discovered behind an apartment building where Herring lived, at 49th and Walnut streets, on Nov. 28, 2017.

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office offered to drop first- and second-degree murder charges — and to have Herring plead to third-degree murder, which would possibly allow Herring to skirt a life sentence.

In a formal discussion with the judge, Herring told the judge, “I ain’t taking it.”

If he had, the minimum the now 25-year-old would have served would have been 45 years in prison.

Herring is also charged with abuse of a corpse, arson, kidnapping and risking a catastrophe.

His trial is now set for March 2020 in front of Judge Sandy Byrd.