SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Wednesday in court, a Sioux Falls woman pleaded guilty to being an accessory to murder.
The plea is part of a deal with prosecutors. Taylor Crossly was initially charged with murder after police found the decomposing body of a man in a black bag inside his Sioux Falls apartment.
In leg shackles with her now dark hair pulled up in a bun and wearing glasses, the 28-year-old admitted to her part in the death of Nigussie Bulti. The 63-year-old was beaten to death on July 5th, 2023. Bulti was known as a friendly person who worked in housekeeping at Sanford Hospital. He came to the U.S. from Ethiopia and became a U.S. citizen in 2009.
Wednesday in court, Crossly pleaded guilty to being an accessory, in exchange the state’s attorney’s office dropped all other charges, including murder. As part of the deal, Crossly will be required to testify against her friend Morning Star Jewett.
According to prosecutors, the crime started when Bulti refused to give Jewett a cigarette in the stairwell of the apartment building on North Cliff Avenue. The argument turned into a physical struggle and Crossly admitted to stabbing Bulti with a pair of scissors. Jewett is accused of beating Bulti and stomping on his head, which led to his death. He will face trial on charges of murder, manslaughter and assault. As of today, he has a jury trial scheduled for June of next year.
Crossly will have to wait to find out her punishment. Today in court the judge delayed her sentencing until after she testified in the case against Jewett. Accessory is a class 5 felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
However, Crossly could face more time as a habitual offender because of prior drug possession convictions. The judge will take that into consideration and has ordered a presentence investigation.
