The man who admitted to kidnapping and killing an Amish teenager in June last year was sentenced to decades in prison on Friday after accepting a plea agreement that exempted him from the death penalty.

Justo Smoker, 35, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder after authorities determined that he had kidnapped Linda Stoltzfoos and strangled her and buried her body in Lancaster County. The teenager had been missing for 10 months before Smoker agreed to show investigators where he hid her body.

Smoker was sentenced to 35 1/2 to 71 years in prison. According to a series of previous thefts and robberies, he will face an additional sentence of more than 17 years for violating parole regulations. Associated Press.

Stoltzfoos is from the Bird-in-Hand district of East Lampeter Township. According to reports, on the day before Stoltzfoos disappeared on June 21, several women were followed by Smoker in his car.

A few weeks after Stoltzfoos disappeared, the police charged Smoker with felony kidnapping and illegal imprisonment for misdemeanor. The criminal homicide charge was added in December last year.

As part of a deal with prosecutors, Smok pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, kidnapping and related crimes.He was asked Show investigators where he buried the juvenile body This April.

Authorities said Smok killed Stoltzfors within hours of the kidnapping and buried her in the place where her stockings and bra were later found. The body was then moved to another grave on the railway property behind the company where he worked, near Highway 41 in eastern Lancaster County.

Source/East Lampert Town Police

Justo Smoker

The coroner determined that Stoltzfoos had a stab wound on his neck, Suffocated to death.

District Attorney Heather Adams said that Smok will be sentenced to life imprisonment for his crimes.

In court on Friday, a lawyer for Smoker stated that he had been drinking heavily before being kidnapped and that there was “no logical explanation” for his decision to kill Stoltzfoos. Pennsylvania LiveThe smoker denies sexually assaulting adolescents.

In his first public comment on the case, Smok expressed regret for his actions.

“I can’t undo anything I did,” Smok said. “Even if I say these things, I don’t feel any fairness to the pain it has caused me.”

Stoltzfoos is the eldest of her eight children. A lawyer representing the Stoltsforth family said that they hope to forgive Smok in accordance with the teachings of the Bible.