The husband of a woman who was found dead in Jordan Lake in 2023 pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Monday.
Omar Matthew Ibrahim Drabick was initially charged with first-degree muder and concealment of a death in connection with the disppearance of his wife, 34-year-old Hadeel Ghadhanfer Hikmat.
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Her body was found in August 2023 at Jordan Lake. Drabick was arrested in September 2023.
As part of the plea agreement, Drabick will be sentenced to 25 to 31 years in prison for second-degree murder, and will serve an additional six to nine years for concealment of death.
According to court documents, Drabick admitted to an aggravating factor -- having a close personal relationship with his victim.
In 2023, WRAL spoke to Hikmat's brother, Firas Hikmat, who lived in Turkey.
He told us that she had moved to the United States from Iraq the year before her death, and that justice awaited Drabick.
Firas said, "Rest in peace my sis. God, Allah, and law know you are a victim. We love you Hadeel."