An Ohio man accused of killing his wife has been sentenced to life in prison with no possibility for parole after being convicted of murder and other charges. He had initially faced a possible death sentence. After his sentencing, the man's attorney said that the jurors, who deliberated for around three hours, paid close attention to the evidence and the law. The 27-year-old man was found guilty on all counts, which included kidnapping, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, kidnapping and two counts of aggravated murder.
Because Ohio law currently allows for capital punishment, murder is a serious charge in the state. Possible sentences for individuals found guilty of aggravated murder in Ohio may be sentenced to death or life in prison. In some cases, these individuals may be able to qualify for parole after 30, 25 or 20 years, although murders with sexual motivation or those that meet sexual predator specifications do not typically qualify for parole.
According to authorities, the 25-year-old victim was found inside a septic tank in the yard behind an Ohio church. They said she had been strangled with a zip tie. The killing occurred nearly a year after the woman filed for divorce from the suspect, which led to a custody battle for the couple's three children.
Both of the suspect's parents are also scheduled to go to trial for murder, with prosecutors accusing the couple of assisting in the killing. His father faces an aggravated murder charge and could be sentenced to death if convicted. The suspect's mother, who was charged with murder, faces a sentence of 15 years to life.
Source: Newark Advocate, "Life sentence for man in Logan murder case," June 15, 2012