Man Gets 65 Years in Prison For Dismemberment Killing

One of two men accused of killing a southwestern Illinois woman and dismembering her body has pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 65 years in prison.

A Madison County judge sentenced 29-year-old Patrick Chase of Alton to 45 years on a first-degree murder charge and 20 years on a charge of dismembering a human body.

Chase pleaded guilty to both counts moments earlier.

Authorities charged Chase and 32-year-old Brandon Chittum of Collinsville in the death of 30-year-old Courtney Coats of Alton. She had been missing for nearly a month before her body was found last December near an Illinois River bridge in Greene County.

Prosecutors say Chase and Coats were lovers and apartment mates when the killing happened during an argument.

Chittum has pleaded not guilty and awaits trail.