The last remaining suspect in the killing of 5‑year‑old Prince McCree entered guilty pleas Monday in connection with the boy's violent death, bringing a grim chapter in a case that shocked the community more than two years ago.

Eighteen‑year‑old Erik Mendoza — who was 15 at the time of the crime — pleaded guilty Feb. 16, 2026, to first‑degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse, and three counts of second‑degree recklessly endangering safety, according to court records and local reporting.

A sixth charge — physical abuse of a child, repeated acts causing death — was dismissed but read into the record for sentencing purposes.

Mendoza's plea comes ahead of what would have been his trial on charges tied toPrince McCree's October 2023 death. Prosecutors had charged Mendoza as an adult and said his actions resulted in the young child's brutal beating and subsequent death.

At the time of the offense, Mendoza and another man, 27‑year‑old David E. Pietura, lived in the same household as Prince and his family. Pietura previously pled guilty and is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole for his role in the killing.

According to criminal complaints and news reports, Pietura discovered Mendoza choking Prince before the assault escalated. The pair then allegedly bound the child with duct tape and repeatedly beat him. Surveillance footage reportedly captured the two dumping the child's body in a dumpster near a Milwaukee street.

Law enforcement records indicate that multiple objects — including a barbell, golf club, and concrete bird feeder — were used in the attack on the boy as he repeatedly regained consciousness during the beating.

Prince McCree was reported missing by his mother on Oct. 25, 2023. She last saw him walking toward the basement of their home that day. His body was discovered the following morning inside a dumpster about a mile from the family residence.

The disturbing nature of the crime prompted intense local coverage and contributed tolegislative changes in Wisconsin. Lawmakers passed the 'Prince Act,' signed by Gov. Tony Evers in 2024, which expanded the criteria for issuing Amber Alerts so that more missing children cases can quickly receive statewide alerts.

Mendoza's guilty plea carries a mandatory life sentence, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5, 2026.

Source: International Business Times UK