Man accused of killing 7 women pleads no contest

MILWAUKEE – A man accused of killing seven women over 21 years in Milwaukee has pleaded no contest to all charges against him.

Fifty-year-old Walter Ellis appeared in Milwaukee County Circuit Court shackled and in a wheelchair Friday. He provided succinct answers to questions by Judge Dennis Cimpl as to whether he understood he was giving up his right to a trial, would be convicted and faced life in prison.

Cimpl convicted Ellis of five counts of first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of the women, who were killed between 1986 and 2007.

Cimpl said he was satisfied that Ellis made the pleas "voluntarily and intelligently." Ellis was scheduled for a motion hearing and unexpectedly entered the no contest pleas Friday. Sentencing is scheduled Feb. 24.