A 28-year-old Portland man pleaded guilty this morning to the murder of his longtime girlfriend at their apartment last fall.

Joel Olavarria is to immediately begin serving his 25-year sentence after the plea hearing at Cumberland County Superior Court. He has been held without bail since the Oct. 25, 2007 slaying of Jennifer Soto. A trial for Olavarria was scheduled to begin Oct. 27.

At the time of the murder, Olavarria and Soto were living on Anderson Street with their three-year-old daughter and 10-month-old son. The relationship between Olavarria and Soto had been marked by allegations of abuse on each side, a custody struggle over the children and periods of reconciliation, according to court documents and reports from neighbors.

Police said Olavarria killed Soto, 21, at their apartment, then drove more than 30 miles north and dumped her body in a branch of the Cathance River in Bowdoinham.

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