The family of Kiela Gem Knowles left the courtroom in tears Wednesday morning as the teen’s killer was sentenced to 334 months in prison.
Knowles, 19, was strangled to death in her downtown ParkRapids apartment Feb. 23 by Harley David Leritz, 21, who had moved to Menahga shortly before the crime.
Leritz sat impassively through the hearing that Judge Robert Tiffany called “extremely tragic.”
Due to alcohol consumption that night, Leritz said he didn’t remember the circumstances leading up to the strangulation.
He pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder Nov. 25.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I’m really sorry,” Lertitz said when asked if he had any words for the court, then acknowledged “nothing I say can bring her back.”
Under sentencing guidelines, Leritz will spend two-thirds of the time, roughly 223 months, behind bars with the remainder on supervised probation.
Leritz will pay a $2,500 fine, $75 in court costs and restitution to date of $1,728.41. That number will rise as funeral costs will be added in.
Tiffany also said Leritz must do something about his alcohol abuse, which contributed to the crime.
Leritz has previously been convicted of traffic and liquor charges in addition to a Fourth Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct charge.
