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Franklin D. Bessette Jr., the Kenai man implicated in the murder of Soldotna resident Michele Pecora, was indicted on one count of second-degree murder and two counts of sexual assault by a Kenai grand jury on Monday.

According to the indictment, Bessette allegedly engaged in activity that caused a person's death, knowing his actions would likely cause death or serious physical injury, according to the indictment. He also is charged with engaging in sexual contact and sexual penetration without consent.

Pecora is not identified by name in the indictment.

On May 17, Alaska State Troopers were alerted to a body in a box in an abandoned vehicle at Mile 16.5 of the Kenai Spur Highway. The body was sent to the State Medical Examiner's office in Anchorage where it was later positively identified as Pecora.

The 20-year-old was last seen in the Kenai area on Oct. 12, 2008. Pecora had left her residence without identification, money or extra clothing. A missing persons bulletin was issued for her Nov. 20.

Court records state that about 6 1/2 hours after finding the body, troopers and investigators with the Alaska Bureau of Investigation received a phone call from Bessette saying, "I am Frank Bessette and I'm the one that killed Michele."

ABI investigators went to a residence on Fourth Avenue in Kenai where Bessette was advised of his rights, and he admitted to killing Pecora.

He told investigators he had broken her neck, placed her into a cardboard box and then put her body into the vehicle on Coyote Road.

In the police affidavit, Bessette is reported to have said he had been house sitting in Kenai when Pecora and a friend arrived at the house. He said the three went to get some alcohol, returned to the residence and were drinking beer when Pecora's friend had to leave and left Pecora alone with Bessette.

Later, he told investigators, Pecora contacted some friends who picked her up, leaving him alone at the residence.

He said he drank a large amount of vodka and passed out on the couch in the living room.

He was awakened by Pecora performing a sexual act on him, and he tried to get her off him when two unknown males started attacking him. While he fought with the pair, Pecora tried to intervene and as Bessette continued to fight, he twisted Pecora out of the way, breaking her neck. The two males fled the residence.

Realizing Pecora was dead, Bessette said he became scared and did not call for medical help or call police. Instead, he stuffed her body into a green cardboard TV box and placed the box in his vehicle. He kept the body in his car, driving around town for four or five days before putting the box in the abandoned vehicle.

At the time of his arrest, Bessette was charged with murder and tampering with evidence, according to troopers. He was taken to Wildwood Pretrial Facility.

Bessette pleaded no contest to one count of tampering with physical evidence on Oct. 2. With the acceptance of Bessette's plea, Superior Court Judge Anna Moran set sentencing for 3:30 p.m. Dec. 16.

Sentencing set

Bessette pleaded no contest to one count of tampering with physical evidence on Oct. 2. With the acceptance of Bessette's plea, Superior Court Judge Anna Moran set sentencing for 3:30 p.m. Dec. 16.