UPDATED: Tucker Cipriano Pleads 'No Contest' to Murder Charge

Calmly affirming again and again that he acted of his own free will, 20-year-old Tucker Cipriano pleaded guilty Monday to a charge of felony murder in the 2012 beating death of his father. 

He now faces a sentence of life in prison, without the possibility of parole. Authorities say Cipriano and his friend Mitchell Young, 21, were high on synthetic marijuana when they broke into the Cipriano home in Farmington Hills looking for money. 

Opening statements were set to begin Monday in Cipriano's trial on multiple charges in the April 16, 2012 attack that left Robert Cipriano dead. Additional felony charges related to assaults on Tucker's mother, Rose, and brother, Salvatore, will likely not move forward.

"Any other charges would be subsumed by the life sentence," Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor John Skrzynski said. Later, he said he would reserve dropping those charges "without prejudice" until Tucker Cipriano's July 9 sentencing.

Family members wept as Skrzynski read exhibits into the record that included Tucker Cipriano's description of the attack and Robert Cipriano's autopsy report. He and defense attorney Mitchell Ribitwer asked a number of questions to ensure Cipriano was making the plea of his own free will and that he was not under the influence of drugs. 

In questioning his client, Ribitwer noted that Cipriano came to him with the idea of plea, and they had been talking about for weeks.

"Tucker and I have discussed this matter at length … this is his choice," Ribitwer said. 

Skrzynski said additional charges may be filed if the physical condition of either Rose or Salvatore Cipriano should change. Both continue to recover from life-threatening injuries.

"Mr. Cipriano should know that he pleads at his own peril today," the prosecutor said. 

Judge Shalina Kumar said a gag order prohibiting attorneys and family members from making out-of-court statements remains in place, pending completion of the trial for Young, who also faces felony murder and assault charges related to the attack. The two men were being tried at the same time, with separate juries. 

Ribitwer confirmed Monday morning that there had been "discussions" about Cipriano's guilty plea, the Detroit Free Press reported. Then just after 12:30 p.m., WXYZ-TV reported a source had confirmed the deal was in place. 

A week ago, Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper told reporters she would not consider a plea deal for less than the full sentence, which had been requested by family members. According to the WXYZ report, Tucker Cipriano agreed to the deal to "spare his family any more grief."

“Look, he didn’t want to put them through it,” Ribitwer told the Detroit Free Press. “He could give them this.”

WDIV-TV on Monday released portions of Tucker Cipriano's videotaped interview with Farmington Hills Police shortly after the attack.