Prison therapy leads to inmate's confession

updated 1:53 p.m. ET June 19, 2009

EL DORADO, Ark. - An Arkansas man who confessed in a prison counseling session that he killed his grandmother has pleaded guilty and is to serve 25 years in prison.

Jason Allan Johnston pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder for killing 72-year-old Elizabeth Ann Burns in 2006. The 25 years is added to his three-year sentence for forgery.

During his plea hearing, Johnston told the judge, "I took the life of my meme." Another inmate in Johnston's group session had notified authorities about his confession.

The 30-year-old Johnston first told investigators that Burns had not been feeling well and was unresponsive the morning of her death. The death was attributed to undetermined natural causes.

Johnston said he smothered Burns because she was ill and he wanted to end her suffering.

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