The judge overseeing the case said it was one of the most brutal, heartless crimes he’d handled in 26 years on the bench.
Donald Lee of Sutherland was sentenced Monday to 70 years to life in prison for killing his girlfriend’s four-year-old daughter.
Lincoln County District Court Judge John Murphy spared Lee the death penalty because Lincoln County Attorney Rebecca Harling said authorities couldn’t prove that the girl had been sexually assaulted.
Lee pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in the death of Ashlyn Gamble. Authorities accused Lee of sexually assaulting and killing the girl a year ago.
Thanks to Josh Mackey, KOGA, Ogallala
