Man Pleads Guilty to Fatally Beating Woman in Drug Dispute

A Springfield, Massachusetts, man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for beating a mother of seven to death in a dispute over drugs.

The Republican newspaper (http://bit.ly/1IlQ5sO ) reports that Ronald Ruell Jr. was sentenced Tuesday in Hampden Superior Court to 25 years in prison for the February 2012 death of 38-year-old Judy Ramirez.

Prosecutors say the two had been using cocaine together.

Defense lawyer Calvin Carr said the 33-year-old Ruell did not plan to kill Ramirez, but beat her because he wanted to steal her crack cocaine. Ramirez died from a fractured sternum that caused internal bleeding.

Prosecutors say Ramirez's blood was found on Ruell's jeans.

The defense lawyer says Buell was abused as a child by foster parents, has mental health issues and drug and alcohol addictions.