Adam Sapikowski was charged with first-degree murder in the death of his parents, Allison and James Sapikowski, in April 2005.
Police said their bodies had been in the house for weeks before they were discovered wrapped in blankets behind a barricaded door. Police also said both had been shot several times at close range with a .410-caliber shotgun.
On the weekend of their deaths, police said Adam Sapikowski had a party at the house after attending his junior prom at Durham Academy. He then checked into a Durham motel, where he stayed occasionally for two weeks until relatives asked police to check the house.
Friday the 19-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of second degree murder and one count of felony obstruction of justice. Sapikowski agreed to second degree murder in exchange for a reduced sentence.
He faces a maximum of 24 years and six months for his father's death and 25 years and six months for his mother's death. The Orange County judge will deliver the sentence for killing his parents next week.
The same judge handed down a suspended sentence for the felony obstruction of justice charge Friday.
The following statement was issued by the family through their attorney:
"The Sapikowski and Powell families consider the guilty pleas of Adam Sapikowski to obstruction of justice and to second degree murder of his mother and father Jim and Alison Sapikowski as bringing a sense of closure to this horrific and painful chapter in our lives. We dearly miss Alison and Jim. They were generous, kind, and loving people, and we will forever mourn their deaths. The pleas speak for themselves and provide some solace and a sense of safety to family members in that Adam will remain behind bars for many years for his crimes. The thought of a trial, and the reopening of wounds that are still healing, was not inviting to any family member. It is time for this to come to an end. The families ask for your understanding and respect for our privacy as we move forward, continuing to cope with the grief and sadness that this has brought us. We are grateful that the court has accepted the pleas, we thank the prosecutor, Jim Woodall, and his office, for the professional way in which they handled this matter."
