WICHITA, Kan. – A judge has sentenced a Kansas man to death for killing a college student more than two years ago.
Justin Thurber, 25, did not say anything or show any emotion as Cowley County District Judge Jim Pringle announced the sentence Friday. A jury had recommended the death penalty last month after finding the Arkansas City man guilty of capital murder in the January 2007 death of 19-year-old Jodi Sanderholm.
The Cowley College student was abducted, raped and strangled, her body found several days after her disappearance in a wildlife area near Arkansas City.
Pringle also sentenced Thurber to 176 months for aggravated kidnapping.
Sanderholm's family members say they are happy with the death sentence and that they now won't have to worry about Thurber hurting anybody again.
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