Becker Gets Life Without Parole In Thomas Murder

((HT: KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids))

An Iowa judge has sentenced Mark Becker to life in prison after the family of slain Aplington-Parkersburg ((IA)) high school football coach Ed Thomas gave tearful testimony about the impact of Thomas' murder.

Mark Becker was convicted March 2nd of first-degree murder, which carries an automatic life sentence without parole. The 24-year-old Becker gunned down Thomas in the Aplington-Parkersburg High School weight room on June 24, 2009.

Iowa District Court Judge Stephen Carroll says Becker "imposed a nightmare" on Becker's and Thomas' families, along with the entire town of Parkersburg.

Carroll says Becker made a choice when he shot Thomas. Becker declined to comment before his sentence, but his attorney, Susan Flander, says "schizophrenia is not a choice."

Here's Dave Franzman on the phone, thanks again to KCRG-TV


Becker was also ordered to pay more than $150,000 in restitution and court fees.