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Rowe, now 50, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, rape and related counts in exchange for life in prison without the possibility of parole, with a consecutive sentence of 60 to 120 years, prosecutors said.

According to prosecutors, Rowe spoke to Mirack’s family in court, saying, “I can’t imagine what you are going through. I apologize.\"

\"PHOTO:
WHTM, FILE
PHOTO: A sign seeking information on the 1992 murder of Christy Mirack is seen in the Lancaster, Pa., area in an image made from file video.
>

To Mirack’s father, Rowe said, \"I'm sorry, sir,\" according to Hambright.

Rowe \"admitted his guilt,\" defense attorney Patricia Spotts said in court Tuesday, according to the district attorney's office statement. \"He has told us that he did it.\"

\"PHOTO:
WHTM, FILE
PHOTO: The East Lampeter Township, Pa., home of Christy Mirack, who was murdered inside it in 1992, is seen in an image made from file video.
>

Though prosecutors said the death penalty was warranted, the plea was reached after discussions which included the Mirack family, Hambright said.

\"PHOTO:
Mark Scolforo/AP
PHOTO: Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman announces charges in a 1992 cold case killing during a news conference at the Lancaster County Courthouse in Lancaster, Pa., June 25, 2018.
>

Years went by without an arrest, until police were able to use new investigative technology known as genetic genealogy, which uses an unknown suspect's DNA to trace his or her family tree.

The first public arrest through genetic genealogy was the April 2018 arrest of the suspected \"Golden State Killer.\" Since then, genetic genealogy has helped lead to over 20 other suspect identifications.

In the Mirack case, DNA left by the suspect at the crime scene was uploaded to a public genetic genealogy database, which found matches to Rowe's relatives, prosecutors said.

In May 2018, investigators took DNA from gum and a water bottle Rowe had used while DJing at an elementary school, prosecutors said.

The DNA was submitted to a state police crime lab, which determined it matched DNA found on multiple parts of Mirack's body, as well as the carpet underneath her body, prosecutors said.

ABC News' Caila Klaiss contributed to this report.

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