A Lake Charles woman admitted Monday in 14th Judicial District Court to killing her husband with a crowbar while he slept in December 2011.

Darlene Sias, 53, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of manslaughter in the death of 62-year-old Joseph Sias.

Darlene Sias, who was scheduled to go to trial Monday, was charged with second-degree murder.

The prosecution and the defense said they will offer a joint recommendation for Darlene Sias’ sentence, which Judge Clayton Davis will hand down April 17.

She faces up to 40 years in prison.

Prosecutor Rick Bryant said that on Dec. 20, 2011, Darlene Sias went into the bedroom of the couple’s California Trail home and attacked Joseph Sias with a crowbar, killing him instantly.

She left a trail of blood throughout the house, Bryant said.

It was Darlene Sias who first reported the death to police.

As part of the plea deal, she had to answer prosecutors’ questions regarding what she did with the crowbar, where her bloody clothes from that day were and provide timeline details, her defense attorney, King Alexander, said.

He said she told prosecutors that she threw the crowbar into the median of Enterprise Boulevard while driving northbound on the street.

He said she did not believe she had gotten blood on her that day.

Alexander said she had been drinking and had done some drugs.

Authorities escort the body of 62-year-old Joesph Sias from his home in December 2011. (American Press Archives).

Brad Puckett

Darlene Sias