PITTSFIELD - The husband of Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien on Thursday pleaded guilty to stabbing and beating the 42-year-old transgender activist to death in their North Adams home two years ago.
Mark Steele Knudslien, 49, changed his plea to guilty in Berkshire Superior Court, admitting to second-degree murder. Judge John Agostini sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 25 years.
Christa Steele-Knudslien was a well-known activist for the Western Massachusetts transgender community. She was also a founder of two beauty pageants, Miss Trans New England and Miss Trans America.
More than 50 people turned out in Northampton in the weeks after her murder for a memorial service for her.
The couple had been married since the previous April but had been living together for several years before that.
He admitted to stabbing her and hitting her with a hammer during a fight in their home on the night of Jan. 4, 2018. Police learned of the murder when he walked into the Adams police station to say that he “had done something bad.”
Police would find her body wrapped in some bedding, plastic sheeting and a tarp in the basement of their home. He would tell police that they were arguing when he “snapped” and began to hit her with the hammer before finally stabbing her in the back.
Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington thanked the Adams and North Adams police and state police detectives for their work in investigating the case prior to trial.
She also expressed sympathy to Christa Steele Knudslien’s family and friends.
“I send my heartfelt condolences to those who loved Christa dearly and the entire transgender community who looked up to her as a leader,” she said.
Her death, Harrington said, “is yet another horrific domestic violence homicide in the Berkshires,” and pledged that her office is focused on prosecuting such cases and holding abusers accountable.