OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man has pleaded no contest to second-degree murder charges for strangling his girlfriend and leaving her in an empty grave.

20-year-old Mikael Loyd entered his plea deal Thursday. He was charged for choking 19-year-old Melissa Rodriguez in August 2013 and later dumping her body into a grave.

Police say the murder occurred just after Loyd had left a mental health institution. They say Loyd had an outstanding arrest warrant for making comments about wanting to kill his mother, but they didn’t take him into custody before the murder.

A message left for Loyd’s attorney was not immediately answered.

Loyd faces 20 years to life in prison. A sentencing hearing has been set for April.