Storm Lake, Iowa
[SeMissourian.com]    
May 11, 3:14 PM EDT

Iowa man sentenced to 45 years for beating death

SPENCER, Iowa (AP) -- A 21-year-old Spencer man has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for fatally beating another man during a burglary in northwest Iowa.

Sioux City television station KTIV reports (http://bit.ly/13O0tXb ) that Christopher Fitzpatrick was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter, first-degree robbery and conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine.

Police say they found 59-year old Edward Kitto badly beaten in the backyard of a Spencer home on Aug. 27. Kitto died at a Sioux Falls, S.D., hospital on Sept. 8.

Fitzpatrick had been charged with first-degree murder and had faced life in prison before taking a deal from prosecutors. As part of the deal, Fitzpatrick admitted in court to hitting Kitto and stealing money from the man's wallet.

A second suspect, 21-year old Cody Millard of Spencer, is awaiting trial.

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Information from: KTIV-TV, http://www.ktiv.com

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