Kevin Ware Jr. a former NFL tight end who spent time with Washington and the San Francisco 49ers, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for murdering his girlfriend and setting her body on fire. Ware reached a deal on Wednesday with the prosecution in exchange for pleading guilty to the 2021 murder of Taylor Pomaski, per the New York Post.
After prosecutors offered the plea deal, Judge Brian Warren told Ware, “I’m going to play football with you right now,” as he pressed Ware to make a decision, per the Houston Chronicle. Ware accepted the plea deal within 20 minutes.
Pomaski disappeared after she was last seen at a party at her home in Houston, Texas, on April 25, 2021, according to NBC Houston. Days before the disappearance, Kevin Ware Jr. was found with guns, cocaine and meth when he was pulled over for speeding in Montgomery County. Authorities discovered Pomaski’s remains in a ditch in Harris County in December 2021.
Pomaski’s ex-boyfriend, Eric Zuleger told KHOU 11 News that he believed she was in an abusive and toxic relationship. “Taylor reached out to me many times throughout the month of April. We were talking about her getting out of there, getting back on her feet, getting herself set and stabilized,” he said.
Looking at Kevin Ware Jr.’s NFL career
Ware was indicted by a grand jury in Harris County Texas in July 2022 on murder and tampering charges in connection to Pomaski’s death. In December of that year, the now 44-year-old pleaded guilty to drugs and weapons charges and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Ware signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played in 11 games during his rookie season and caught just three passes for 17 yards. The following year, Ware signed a contract with the 49ers and played in five games. In May 2005, Ware signed with the Oakland Raiders but was released from the team the following month.
Before playing in the NFL, Ware played college football for the Washington Huskies. According to his bio, Ware became the starting tight end in 2002 after finishing the 2001 season with seven catches for 102 yards in 10 games.
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