The North Adams, Massachusetts man authorities said killed his wife more than two years pleaded guilty to murder on Thursday.
The Berkshire District Attorney’s office says Mark Steele-Knudslien stabbed Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien and hit her with a hammer at their North Adams home in January 2018. The 49-year-old was sentenced to life in prison. He is eligible for parole in 25 years.
Berkshire DA Andrea Harrington said Christa was a leader in the transgender community.
“I send my heartfelt condolences to those who loved Christa dearly and the entire transgender community who looked up to her as a leader," Harrington said in a statement. "This is yet another horrific domestic violence homicide in the Berkshires. My office focuses on holding perpetrators of these crimes accountable and this sentence will keep a very dangerous person away from the community for years to come. I thank the Adams, North Adams, and Massachusetts State Police for their investigation which gave us the evidence we needed to secure this conviction and sentence. We are holding the perpetrator accountable for his actions.”