Nonetheless, when Cole approached Montague County district attorney in 2010, he was reluctant to consider the proposal. ومع ذلك، عندما اقترب كول من محامي مقاطعة مونتاج في عام 2010 ، كان مترددًا في النظر في الاقتراح.
Shortly after his trial had begun, Gambill accepted a plea bargain offered by Montague County district attorney Tim Cole, whereby he agreed to plead guilty to Heather's murder—admitting to being the individual who had physically taken her life—in exchange for the prosecution agreeing not to seek the death penalty. اعترف بأنه الشخص الذي أخذ حياتها جسديًا - في مقابل موافقة النيابة على عدم الطلب بعقوبة الإعدام.