3:36 p.m. - Edward Royal Reitan pleaded guilty Wednesday to shooting Robin Enochson about 14 years ago in his mobile home south of Driscoll.

The 51-year-old man confessed to the crime in May, but originally pleaded not guilty. His attorney, Robert Bolinske Jr., said his client was holding out for a chance to negotiate a shorter sentence.

"It was a strategic decision," Bolinske said.

Reitan changed his mind after a plea agreement was negotiated. Bolinske said Burleigh County State's Attorney Richard Riha agreed to recommend a 30-year sentence. The class AA murder charge has a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without parole. The final decision is up to the judge.

Reitan gave the following account of what led to the murder at his pretrial conference:

"Him (Enochson) and his wife had an argument," said Reitan who lived in the basement of Enochson's mother-in-law's house at the time of the murder. "It was pretty horrendous."

Reitan said he and Enochson were both "pretty drunk" when he arrived at the mobile home in December of 1990. He said he woke Enochson, they argued and Enochson went back to bed.

Reitan said he became angry and "I grabbed a gun and I shot him."

Reitan drove from Washington state to Bismarck May 20 to tell authorities a similar story. He called 911 from a gas station across the street from the Burleigh County Sheriff's Department, and met with investigators for an interview. He was arrested after he gave a detailed description of the murder scene and his motive for the murder.

Riha said Reitan also told investigators where he stashed guns and ammunition after the murder. Bullets found between Enochson's house and Bismarck collaborated the story.

"His conscience got the best of him and he had to do something," Bolinske said. "His life deteriorated. He started to self-destruct. He wanted to do what was right."

Bolinske said Reitan doesn't have a terminal illness.

Enochson was 34 years old when his father found him dead Dec. 20, 1990. He died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head fired from a .22-caliber rifle. Reitan was a suspect in the murder, but there was never enough evidence to charge him with the crime, authorities said.

Reitan will be sentenced in a couple months after a presentence investigation. He's being held in the Burleigh County jail without bond.

(Reach reporter Mike Albrecht at 250-8261 or cops@ndonline.com.)