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In an emotionally charged courtroom, Clay Waller told the judge he killed his wife Jacque Waller two years ago.

Now Waller is headed to prison to serve a 20 year sentence. As part of a plea deal, Waller told authorities where he buried his wife's body. He explained how he punched her in the face then strangled her to death.

Jacque's sister, Cheryl Brenneke, read a statement that saying she is unhappy with the sentence, but knows he will get "jailhouse justice". The judge accepted the deal and said Waller did not get what he deserved, but it will have to do.

Officials say he could serve as little as 85 percent of the sentence, but it is not likely.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) - A lawyer says a southeast Missouri man will plead guilty to killing his estranged wife, a mother of triplets.

Public defender Christopher Davis told The Associated Press that Clay Waller will confess to killing 39-year-old Jacque Waller at a Thursday hearing. Jacque Waller's body was found on a Mississippi River island May 29.

Davis would not say Wednesday whether Clay Waller led police to his wife's body. She had been missing since June 1, 2011, the same day the couple met with a divorce lawyer. Police said they had been living apart for about three months and had financial problems.

Waller was charged last year with first-degree murder, even though his wife's body had not been found at that time. He pleaded not guilty at the time.

A guilty plea is expected when Clay Waller appears in court this week. Waller is accused of murdering his wife, Jacque Waller. She went missing after telling people she was going to meet with her estranged husband in 2011. Search teams found her body last week across the river from Cape Girardeau. Clay Waller is already in prison for harassing Jacque's sister. If he submits the anticipated plea, the next step would be setting a sentencing date. The couple's triplets are now seven years old and live with Jacque's sister.

Almost two years to the day after Jacque Waller went missing, Cape Girardeau authorities say they found her body.

Waller, the mother of triplets, went to meet with her estranged husband Clay Waller on June 1, 2011. The two were getting together to talk about their divorce. Jacque was not seen alive after that meeting. Clay Waller was already facing murder charges for allegedly killing Jaque.

He is already in jail for harassing Jacque's sister.