An Ocean Springs man will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty this week to raping and killing his stepdaughter.

Sean Downing, 36, entered the guilty plea Monday during a hearing originally scheduled to discuss a change of venue. Judge Kathy King Jackson gave Downing the life sentence.

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped a sexual battery charge against Downing.

Downing said he was under the influence of alcohol and crack cocaine when he got into the argument with 15-year-old Robyn Weatherford that led to her stabbing death in August 2004.