For the second time in a week, a 26-year-old former UConn student from Newtown pleaded guilty to murder in a Connecticut courtroom.

Peter Manfredonia was back in court Thursday on a second set of charges - charged with murder in two different incidents.

Thursday at Milford Superior Court, Manfredonia admitted to murder and kidnapping. Police say he burst into his high school friend Nicholas Eisele's home in Derby on May 24, 2020, shooting and killing Eisele and then kidnapping his girlfriend.

"During the drive, the defendant stated, 'I don't want to have to kill you,'" said Ansonia/Milford State's Attorney Margaret Kelley.

Manfredonia held her at gunpoint for more than seven hours before authorities found her unharmed at a rest stop in New Jersey. She walked out of court Thursday with her attorney.

"It's a very difficult circumstance. She's a very brave young lady. Very brave," said attorney Gene Riccio.

Police say two days before this incident, Manfredonia attacked an 80-year-old man in Willington and killed 62-year-old Ted Demers with a sword.

Police finally arrested Manfredonia at a Maryland truck stop.

Manfredonia pleaded guilty to those charges in Rockville Superior Court last week.

Manfredonia's attorney Thursday said his client has a history of mental illness.

"Therapists weren't taking on new clients at the beginning of the pandemic. You know, I'd like to think but for this pandemic he would have gotten the treatment that was necessary and this all could have been avoided," said Manfredonia's attorney, Michael Dolan.

Manfredonia is facing up to 55 years in prison. He'll be sentenced in Milford on April 19. He'll be sentenced on April 20 in Rockville. The two prison sentences are to run concurrently.