Bucks County Man Sentenced To 25 To 50 Years In Girlfriend's Death After Her Body Found In SUV
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (CBS/AP) - A Bucks County man has been sentenced to 25 to 50 years in the death of his girlfriend, whose body was found in a sport utility vehicle parked in the driveway of the home they shared. Forty-two-year-old Jason Lutey of New Britain admitted to killing 46-year-old Colleen Patterson last September in exchange for a plea deal.
On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, evidence-tampering and possession of an instrument of crime.
The district attorney says Lutey beat Patterson to death in New Britain -- then put her body in his car. Authorities said Patterson's body was found wrapped in a bloodstained cloth in the back of an SUV in September.
Bucks County prosecutors planned to seek execution had Lutey been convicted of first-degree murder.
Lutey said what he called the "heinous act ... will haunt me for the rest of my days." Defense attorney Brad Bastedo said his client had long battled post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)