A State College man pleaded guilty, but mentally ill, to two counts of third degree murder Friday for the 2002 deaths of his parents, Bill and Georgeann Opdenhoff, and could face up to 60 years in prison.

Daniel Opdenhoff, 26, faces two consecutive sentences of 15 to 30 years in prison for the October 2002 bludgeoning of his parents.

After 30 years in prison, Opdenhoff would be eligible for parole, but there is no guarantee he would receive it, depending on his mental capabilities.

Opdenhoff, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, bludgeoned both of his parents over the head with a baseball bat in October 2002. He has been in and out of medical facilities for treatment of the disorder.

Opdenhoff lived with his parents in their State College home, and when police found the murdered couple, Opdenhoff was missing.

Detectives later traced him to New York after he used his parents' ATM card. He had used the card in various State College locations, withdrawing $700.

Opdenhoff was arrested and after further investigation, ultimately charged with the murders. When State College police interviewed Opdenhoff, he said he was attacked by droids and he fought back with a baseball bat.

In the affidavit by Detective Ralph Ralston of the State College Police Department, Opdenhoff admitted to striking his father and mother 25 and 26 times, respectively.

Bill Opdenhoff served as the superintendent for the State College Area School District, and his wife worked in special education at the Panorama Village Elementary School.

Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar said the defense had accepted a plea agreement in the case because it was in Opdenhoff's best interests.

Gricar said Opdenhoff will be sent to a state correctional facility, but at this time, the exact location is unknown.

"He'll be in a state prison, but not the state prison a mentally competent person would go," Gricar said.

Gricar said he offered the plea agreement because he was concerned if the case went to trial, Opdenhoff would be declared not guilty on the basis of an insanity plea.

He said that while he was convinced Opdenhoff was mentally ill, he did not necessarily believe he was insane.

"That concerned me greatly because I'm concerned for the safety of the community," he said. "I had to evaluate the risks of going to trial."

Gricar said he had spoken with Georgeann Opdenhoff's sister and daughter in October when the plea agreement was offered and said he explained to them that despite Opdenhoff's mental illness, he could not offer a lesser penalty because of the gravity of the crime.

"I could not go lesser than the 30-year minimum," he said.