VIDALIA — The man accused of killing his girlfriend and keeping her body hidden for days pleaded guilty to manslaughter Wednesday in Seventh Judicial District Court.

LaFarron DeShon Goodman, 27, 505 Carolina Ave., Ferriday, had previously pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter for the death of Natasha Bates, 23, of Jackson.

Goodman was in court for a status hearing when he changed his pleading to “guilty as charged.”

Judge Leo Boothe ordered a pre-sentencing investigation, which will include interviews with the family of the victim and Goodman as well as law enforcement and the district attorney’s office, before Goodman is sentenced Sept. 16.

The pre-sentencing investigation is to provide some judicial guidance in the case because the evidence was not presented before the judge as it would have been at trial, District Attorney Brad Burget said.

The sentence for manslaughter can be as long as 40 years.

“We are hoping for as much time as we can get, but that is ultimately a judicial decision,” Burget said.

Though Goodman was charged with manslaughter, Burget said the district attorney’s office had scheduled the case to go before the grand jury to determine if it should be considered manslaughter or second-degree murder.

“I wish the grand jury would have had an opportunity to see the case,” Burget said. “They could have found no crime, or a misdemeanor charge or probable cause for second-degree murder.”

A grand jury indictment is required for any charge that can result in a life sentence, which is automatic in a second-degree murder case.

“I can’t stop him from pleading guilty (to manslaughter),” Burget said.

“My job is to present the evidence to the grand jury, and I wasn’t afforded the opportunity.”

On Feb. 27, 2008, Ferriday police responded to a call of a possible homicide at Goodman’s residence.

When they arrived, they discovered Bates dead, with a single gunshot to her left temple.

She had been dead for two days at the time of the discovery, police said at the time.

The two were reportedly involved in a romantic relationship and were apparently living together, police said.

Goodman did not have a prior criminal record, and reportedly admitted to the killing but maintained that it was accidental.