GALENA, Mo. (AP) - A southwestern Missouri woman was ordered Friday to spend 14 years in prison after she admitted in court she had a role in killing a man whose body was found by hikers along a Table Rock Lake shore.
Ann Marie Jean Patrick, 21, of Kimberling City, was sentenced after pleading guilty to charges of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and theft of a motor vehicle. Six other counts were dropped as part of her deal with prosecutors.
Patrick initially was charged with first-degree murder in the 2013 death of 28-year-old Dan Martin of Lampe. His pickup truck was found later in Arkansas.
A co-defendant, 30-year-old Justin Tuttle of Lampe, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges in the case. He's to go on trial in September in Jasper County as a result of a venue change.
Matt Selby, Stone County's top prosecutor, told The Associated Press later Friday that while Martin's family "would have liked to see a more substantial sentence" for Patrick, they understood the rationale behind the plea deal with her "and were appreciative of our efforts."
"Based on the evidence available, I thought it was an appropriate resolution," he said.
Patrick's guilty plea would make her available as a potential witness against Tuttle, if necessary, Selby said.