One of four suspects accused in the torture and murder of an Omaha man last November pleaded guilty Thursday. Joshua Minshall entered the plea after prosecutors agreed to take the death penalty off the table.

The 21-year-old Minshall pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony and will be sentenced in February to life in prison without parole.

According to court testimony, 32-year-old Colby Dandrow was burned, beaten and stabbed more than 100 times in an apartment at Park Avenue and Pacific Street after Dandrow allegedly refused to pay prostitute Alissa Parks $60 for a sex act.

Prosecutors say Parks recruited four others, including Minshall, to harm Dandrow. The torture went on for hours the night of November 15, 2007.

Dandrow's family says they're relieved at least one of the accused will never harm anyone else. "Our son was a good boy,” says stepfather Bill Fay. “He had some problems, but no way should he have been in a situation to in this degree of just complete torture."

After meeting with Dandrow's family, Douglas County Prosecutor Don Kleine agreed to remove an aggravating circumstance and the chance of the death penalty. In exchange, Minshall agreed to plead guilty.

"We decided we'll just go ahead and take this, he'll be in prison for the rest of his life, he won't be eligible for parole,” says Kleine. “That was acceptable to them and it was acceptable to us also."

"Is it justice?” asks Fay. “No, there is no justice. Nothing can ever bring our son back."

Fay says the family would have preferred the death penalty, but they're satisfied with the plea agreement. "Hopefully, where he'll be off the streets forever, where he will never hurt anybody else."

Joseph Tamayo, also accused in the crime, goes on trial in March. According to testimony last January, he and Minshall were the two responsible for the most brutal attacks on Dandrow.

Trial dates have not been set for Parks or Brian Daigger. Charges were dropped against a fifth suspect, William Lieb.

"I will come to every hearing and every trial and everything I can, to be there in what would be support of our son," says Fay.