South Carolina man admits rape and murder of Briana Rabon in court confession

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Stephen Ross Kelly pleaded guilty to raping and killing Briana Rabon, 18, on February 26, 2014, in a South Carolina court on Monday
Kelly, of Elgin, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the horrific crime
Rabon's family was in court and asked for a maximum sentence to be given
Kelly offered an apology to the Rabon family and asked to tell his version of the day's events, but the family denied his request

Published: 20:51 EST, 28 September 2015 | Updated: 23:25 EST, 28 September 2015

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A 21-year-old South Carolina man pleaded guilty to raping, strangling and stashing the body of an 18-year-old woman on Monday, saying he regretfully thinks about the event 'every day'.

Stephen Ross Kelly was expected to start trial on Monday for the death Briana Rabon, who was found dead in a wooded area of a subdivision in Elgin on February 26, 2014.

But instead, Kelly skipped trial by pleading guilty to criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping, murder and a criminal domestic violence charge involving a household member.

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Briana Rabon, 18, was raped and strangled before her body was found in a wooded area of a subdivision in Elgin, South Carolina, on February 26, 2014

Stephen Ross Kelly (pictured here in two separate mug shots), 21, admitted to the crime in court on Monday in front of Rabon's friends and families. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison

'I think about every day what would have happened if I'd just let her go. Let her run,' Kelly said in court on Monday in front of Rabon's friends and family family.

Kelly was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the horrific crime.

Kershaw County investigators found Kelly to be a suspect after discovering he and Rabon were acquaintances and that Kelly 'figured out he was getting caught in his lies' during the interview process, Sheriff Jim Matthews told WIS.

'My investigators interviewed Stephen Kelly and partway during the interview he decided he needed to talk to a lawyer,' Matthews said.

Kelly told investigators that he was the last person to see Rabon alive, but didn't know her whereabouts after that, according to an arrest warrant.

Evidence linked to Rabon's murder was found in Kelly's car, according to authorities. When Kelly offered to tell Rabon's family what happened the day of her death, they declined his offer

Evidence found in Kelly's car linked him to the crime scene, according to The State.

Half of the courtroom gallery was filled with Rabon's family members and friends on Monday during the court hearing. Rabon's mother asked for a maximum sentence.

Kelly's mother took the stand on Monday, citing her son's drug use as the catalyst leading up to the incident.

'I know in my heart that my child is not a monster,' she said to Rabon's family. 'We're two families here in a major tragedy.'

Kelly spoke after, attempting to offer an apology and asking to tell his version of the day's events.

'I feel like if anything's right, it's to let the Rabon family know what happened that night,' Kelly said.

The Rabon family turned down his request.