A Utah man who authorities say stabbed his girlfriend multiple times and left her to die in front of her 5-year-old son has been sentenced to a minimum of 15 years in prison for murder.
The Deseret Newsreports a judge sentenced 50-year-old Darren Byrd on Tuesday in state District Court.
Family members of 46-year-old victim Belinda Thomas recalled her as resilient and loving mother at the sentencing.
West Valley police found Thomas' body on Feb. 9 inside a trailer home she shared with Byrd and her son. A 12-year-old neighbor boy who had stopped by the house called 911.
Byrd pleaded guilty to murder and domestic violence charges in March.
His attorney Neal Hamilton said Byrd wished he could make up for the pain he has caused.