A 21-year-old woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to putting out a hit on her boyfriend and luring him to a late-night party at an apartment in Virginia, Minn., where the deed was carried out with more than a dozen knife-breaking stab wounds.

Janessa L. Peters, of Eveleth, Minn., entered her plea to second-degree murder in St. Louis County District Court in Virginia. She remains jailed without bail ahead of sentencing.

Peters' plot led to the death of Harley Jacka, 28, of Virginia, on April 27, 2014, and three alleged co-conspirators also being charged with murder.

It was more than four months after Jacka's death that Peters came forward and confessed to law enforcement authorities, according to the criminal complaint.

"Peters stated that she can't live with herself anymore," the complaint read.

Peters said she no longer wanted to be Jacka's girlfriend and asked one of the others charged, Bartholamy J. Drift, 40, of Nett Lake, Minn., to kill Jacka, the complaint continued.

Colleen Kelly, Star Tribune
Bartholamy Drift, left, John Isham, center, and Anthony Isham.

Drift agreed to her request, prosecutors alleged.

Drift was charged, along with Anthony J. Isham, 43, of Duluth, and John E. Isham, 39, of Virginia. Drift has pleaded guilty and remains jailed ahead of sentencing next week. The Ishams, both jailed on $1 million bail, have separate trials scheduled.

Prosecutors declined Tuesday to say who they suspect stabbed Jacka.

The three men all have extensive criminal histories in Minnesota. Peters had no serious offenses on her record.

An autopsy revealed that Jacka was stabbed 15 times, leaving wounds to his head, face, neck and chest. Footprints in blood at the scene matched shoes owned by Drift and Anthony Isham, authorities said.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482