Collard sentencing is on the court schedule Thursday

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March 30, 2011

KIM SMITH DEDAM Press-Republican The Press Republican Wed Mar 30, 2011, 11:03 AM EDT

ELIZABETHTOWN — Thomas A. Collard is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday in Essex County Court.

In February, he admitted killing his wife June Marion Hopkins Collard in 1980 and disposing of her body in a pit outside their mobile home off Wilson Road in Olmstedville. Collard, 62, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, a deal offered by the Essex County District Attorney Kristy Sprague.

The former Olmstedville resident was arrested last July in connection with the 30-year-old missing person case. State Police found human remains where Mr. Collard said he put the body decades ago, and DNA tests indicated they were those of his wife.

Sprague said the court would have to follow 1980 sentencing guidelines given the defendant's plea, since the statute of limitations on manslaughter has run out.

Mr. Collard's admission in the plea deal allows the charge to be carried by the court. It is a lesser conviction than the second-degree murder case being prepared by the DA's office.

The hearing is scheduled for 3:15, according to the court clerk's office. The time could change given the busy slate of appearances.

Email Kim Smith Dedam at: kdedam@pressrepublican.com