A Lancaster city mother admitted Thursday in county court to killing her toddler earlier this year and disposing of the body.

Shondraya L. Dickson pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and other charges regarding the January death of 23-month-old Ja'Zirah Rodgers.

Dickson, in exchange for her guilty plea, will serve 17 to 34 years in state prison, as ordered by Judge Howard Knisely.

Dickson, 24, admitted to police to beating the girl and disposing of her body. Police searched for the girl, but her body hasn’t been found.

The beating happened inside an apartment in the 100 block of North Plum Street, where Dickson lived with her three children.

Police believe the fatal beating happened on or around Jan. 2, because that’s the last time anyone reported seeing the girl.

Lancaster County Assistant District Attorney Todd Kriner prosecuted the case.

Dickson’s other two children were in the custody of social services after Ja’Zirah was killed.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us