Man pleads guilty to 2017 murder of Jacksonville music teacher

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The man accused of killing a Jacksonville music teacher has pleaded guilty to her 2017 murder.

Adam Lawson appeared in court Thursday and entered the plea in the killing of Deborah Liles.

PHOTOS: Family shares photos of beloved Jacksonville music teacher who was killed

The state was seeking the death penalty in Lawson's case, but a plea agreement took that option out of consideration.

Liles was found dead in her home by her husband, Michael Liles, in March 2017. Michael Liles, who became the head of the Justice Coalition -- an organization that advocates for victims of crime -- died in October 2018.

RELATED: Husband of murdered Jacksonville teacher: 'We were the real deal'

Liles' daughter, Michelle McFatter, gave a victim impact statement in court on Thursday afternoon.

McFatter said, “I try to remember the joy that she brought to my life and not the suffering that she should never (have) had to endure.”

In March 2017, Action News Jax sat down with Liles’ husband.

He said he discovered her beaten to death, days before, in the kitchen of their Panama Park home.

The couples’ children explained their father died seeking justice.

Gerald Liles, their son said: “He would have welcomed the closure that it brought us, but it would have been very hard for him.”

According to police, Lawson killed the 62-year-old during an armed burglary.

Her children believe there’s more to the story.

Gerald said, “Lawson has never fully said what he did. We believe he is probably protecting people that helped him destroy evidence.”

The family said it’s why the 26-year-old refused to look at them or the video montage of the Jacksonville music teacher that played at the sentencing hearing.

“She was cooky and crazy, and loving, and she loved family … we’ll struggle with this forever,” McFatter said.

The family said they will continue giving Lawson opportunities to speak to them about what happened the morning Liles’ was killed.

Cox Media Group