COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—A former Fort Carson soldier has been sentenced to life in prison for his role in the 2001 murder of a college student who was bludgeoned and strangled and left in the bathtub of her townhouse.
Ryan Krueger, 31, was convicted by a jury Wednesday on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy in the death of Patricia Ann Elliott, 19, a freshman at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
It was the second trial for Krueger after a mistrial was declared earlier this year when the jury could not reach a verdict.
Krueger will appeal, said Bill Griffin, who was appointed to serve as Krueger’s advisory attorney. Krueger represented himself at both trials.
Prosecutors said Elliott had been dealing Ecstasy and marijuana for Krueger, who believed Elliott was an informant and found two men to have her killed,
District Court Judge Kirk Samelson on Wednesday sentenced Krueger to life on the first-degree murder charge and a concurrent sentence of 48 years with five years of probation for conspiracy.
Accomplice Christopher Allen has been sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder. The other accomplice, Benjamin Gunvalsen, pleaded guilty to accessory to murder and was sentenced to four years in prison. Gunvalsen testified against Allen and Krueger.
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Information from: The Gazette,
