STURGIS, S.D. (AP) – A Sturgis teenager has been sentenced to 55 years in prison for killing a Wyoming girl last fall in his basement. 17-year old Michael Campbell was charged as an adult and pleaded guilty to 1st-degree manslaughter. He will be eligible for parole after 27-years.
Campbell was originally charged with alternative counts of 1st and 2nd-degree murder in the death of 16-year old Shayna Ritthaler of Upton, but accepted a plea agreement in May that had both sides recommend the 55-year prison term.
Campbell admitted to investigators that he shot Ritthaler in the head on Oct 7th after an argument had turned violent. The girl had been listed as missing and likely a runaway 4 days earlier, but called her his girlfriend even though they’d just met in person after having catted online for some time.