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Man sentenced in strangulation death

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Dec 11, 2012 at 2:42 pm

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KNSI) A St. Paul man has been has been given the maximum sentence for strangling a woman he said was his "best friend."

Corey Thomas earlier pleaded guilty to intentional second-degree murder and was sentenced Tuesday to 34 years behind bars.

Thomas apologized in Ramsey County District Court to the family of Megan Neely. The 27-year-old mother of two was strangled in October 2011 and her body was stuffed in a crawl space at her apartment. Prosecutors said Thomas could not accept the fact that Neely wanted out of their relationship.

Judge Kathleen Gearin also ordered Thomas to pay $7,800 in funeral and burial expenses.