A Ventnor man who confessed to killing a teen two decades ago has pled guilty to the crime.
Steven Goff, 41, confessed on April 1 that he stabbed Frederick Hart, 15, in Galloway Township, N.J. in May 1990. On Thursday, Goff officially admitted to aggrivated manslaughter before an Atlantic County judge.
Prosecutors said Goff, then 18, stabbed Hart multiple times behind the Clubs Condominiums in Galloway Township on May 7, 1990. Goff told the judge he was "in a rage."
"I lost control over my emotions that day for multiple reasons," Goff said at the time of his confession. "I think it might have been because I was whacked out on steroids."
The next day, Hart was reported missing and about a year and a half later, a hunter found his remains in the woods ending the missing person search, prosecutors said.
Goff said at the time he confessed because he wanted to give the family some closure.
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"I'm sorry," he said. "For over 20 years you have not known what happened to your son and now you know. I can never give him back to you but at least now I hope you see that you have some closure."
Hart's remians were found by a hunter months after the murder in December 1991.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 19. He could face up to 30 years in prison, but must serve 15.
