AnAutryvilleteen pleaded guilty Friday morning to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 to 31 years inprison in the death of his ex-girlfriend DanielleLocklear.

Je'Michael Malloy, of 7946 N.C. Highway 210 South, Autryville, confessed to killing the teen and dumping her body in the South River in Cumberland County, according to police.

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After the plea Friday morning, Malloy stood up and facedLocklear'sfamily.

"I know there is nothing I can do or say that is going to bring her back," he said. "But, I do want toapologizefor the actions I made. I know sorry does not cut it, but I want to say I am truly sorry."

Locklear'smother,RownaFowler told Malloy about the nightmare her family has been through.

"She didn't have no mercy that night...I have not been able to sleep," she said to Malloy. "And then you had theaudacityto write me a letter and ask me for an obituary from my daughter's funeral, and you are the one that put her there."

Malloy's mother, Cynthia Malloy, told Locklear's family that she is in pain too.

"I want you to know I'm blocking out no pain. I pray for y'all," she said. "I pray for healing. I pray for forgiveness, and most of all, I pray for mercy."

Fowler said the peal deal is something she can "live with."

"(His apology) did mean something, but he is still breathing and my daughter is in the grave, so that is the way I look at it," Fowler said.

Locklear, who was afreshman at SouthViewHigh School, was killed on March 11, 2014.

Another teen, Dominic Lock, is also serving time in prison for helping Malloy dispose of Locklear's body.

Investigators say the teens tied cinder blocks around Locklear's body before dumping her into the river.

Both Malloy and Lock were not eligible for the death penalty due to their age at the time of the crime.