Peoria Man Pleads Guilty to Killing His Wife

A central Illinois man was sentenced to 55 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to kidnapping and killing his estranged wife.

The Pekin Daily Times reports 45-year-old Phouvone Sophanavong entered the plea Thursday during a status hearing.

He was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping for the November death of his wife, 28-year-old Laongdao Phangthong.

She'd been shot twice in the chest and her body was found in a parked car. He was arrested after a nine-hour standoff at his Peoria home.

Speaking in court Thursday, Sophanavong says: "I'm responsible for what happened."