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George Burch sentenced to life in prison without parole

Posted at 9:29 PM, May 03, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-04 23:15:35-04

George Burch will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing Nicole VanderHeyden in May 2016.

A judge sentenced Burch to life without parole Friday afternoon.

The sentencing comes nearly two years after officers found VanderHeyden's body in a Bellevue farm field a few miles from her home.

Police arrested Burch several months later after matching his DNA to DNA found on VanderHeyden's body and clothing.

Earlier this year, Burch and members of VanderHeyden's family sat through a nearly two week trial. 

During the trial, prosecutors put Burch at the scene of the murder and where VanderHeyden's body was found through DNA and cell phone evidence. 

A jury deliberated for about three hours before finding him guilty. 

This story will be updated.