News Brief: North Adams man pleads guilty to murdering his wife, Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien

North Adams man pleads guilty to murdering his wife, Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien

Pittsfield — The North Adams man who killed Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien pled guilty to second-degree murder in Berkshire Superior Court on Thursday.

Mark Steele-Knudslien, 49, pled guilty to killing his wife, Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien, by stabbing her and striking her with a hammer. Judge John Agostini sentenced him to life in state prison, with parole eligibility in 25 years.

Mark Steele-Knudslien killed Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien on the evening of Jan. 4, 2018, in their North Adams home.

“I send my heartfelt condolences to those who loved Christa dearly and the entire transgender community who looked up to her as a leader. This is yet another horrific domestic violence homicide in the Berkshires. My office focuses on holding perpetrators of these crimes accountable and this sentence will keep a very dangerous person away from the community for years to come,” District Attorney Andrea Harrington said.

Harrington continued: “I thank the Adams, North Adams, and Massachusetts State Police for their investigation which gave us the evidence we needed to secure this conviction and sentence. We are holding the perpetrator accountable for his actions.”

State police detectives assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office, members of the North Adams and Adams police departments, and the Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services Section conducted the investigation.