A 59-year-old man has been sentenced to 23 years in jail for strangling his girlfriend last year.
Thomas Murphy pleaded guilty to manslaughter and arson in October. In April 2015, Murphy strangled 63-year-old Jean Hartwig inside her Cheektowaga residence at Williamstowne Senior Apartments and then lit her body on fire inside a bedroom.
Following his 23 years, Murphy will also have five years post-release supervision.
DA Michael Flaherty urges anyone who suspects someone they know to be at risk of domestic violence to call the New York State Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-942-6906.
