ELMIRA, NY (WENY) -- A Horseheads man has pleaded guilty to his role in a brutal torture and murder case in Elmira in 2021.

According to the Chemung County District Attorney Weeden Wetmore, Thomas Bovaird pleaded guilty Thursday to second degree murder in the death of Juan Jose Gotay. Gotay was tortured at a home in Elmira, and killed by a group of men in January of 2021. He was dumped and left to die in a remote area of Pennsylvania, near Coudersport. His body was discovered in April 2021. 

Wetmore said Bovaird's guilty plea satisfies the other charges against him. He was initially charged with first degree murder, first degree kidnapping, first degree assault, and three counts of second degree assault. 

Bovaird was one of four men charged in connection to Gotay's death. They include Eddie Marte of New York City, Malik Weems of Pittsburgh, and an unidentified teen from Georgia, who was 16 at the time of the murder.

Last month, Malik Weems pleaded guilty to second degree murder for his role in Gotay's death. Both Weems and Bovaird face sentences of 18 years to life; Weems will be sentenced in July, and Bovaird on September 8th. 

The other two defendants, Marte and the Georgia teenager, are still facing trial.