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NEW YORK - A suburban New York man who murdered a neighbour in her home and was caught with her head in his car trunk was today sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.
The family of Denice Fox had campaigned for Nassau County Judge Richard LaPera to impose a sentence of life without parole on Evan Marshall, but he kept a commitment made when the killer pleaded guilty.
Marshall, 32, killed the retired teacher in August 2006 in an exclusive gated community in Glen Cove, on Long Island.
He pleaded guilty in September to murder, assault and other charges, saying he was seeking money for drugs when he confronted Fox in her home and stabbed her repeatedly.
Marshall, who had been treated for mental health problems, later dismembered Fox's body, stashing the remains in his basement trash. He was arrested the next day as he returned to the crime scene with her head in his car.
Before imposing the sentence, LaPera listened to pleas from Fox's husband, Jay, and their children, as well as from a woman Marshall ran down on a Glen Cove street earlier the day of the killing. The judge said he doubted there was enough evidence to convict Marshall of first-degree murder at trial, and contended that if a jury did so, it probably would have been overturned on appeal.
LaPera imposed 25 years to life, the top term for a second-degree murder conviction, as well as five additional years for assault in running down the pedestrian. He said he would include in the court record a recommendation that Marshall be denied parole when he becomes eligible in 30 years.
- AP
