ONONDAGA COUNTY, N.Y. -- The man charged with stabbing his wife to death and then stuffing her body in a closet for three days has plead guilty to manslaughter in the first degree.

In October of last year, detectives showed up at John Weaver's home in Brewerton in search of his estranged wife, Carol Weaver. They found her in a closet in a back bedroom.

John Weaver originally claimed her death was an accident and that he acted in self-defense. He told police Carol Weaver went after him first and when she did, she accidentally hit the toggle switch on his wheelchair and the knife went into her.

"The forensic evidence did not support his version of events and I think that once our investigation demonstrated that, I think his attorney had much more sway convincing Mr. Weaver that his story did not make sense and I think, I hope that's what led to the plea today," said Rick Trunfio, Chief Assistant District Attorney.

Weaver faces 21 years in state prison.