Woman gets 25-50 years in landlord’s slaying

Grand Rapids– A woman convicted of killing her landlord in 2007 in western Michigan and burning the body has been sentenced to 25-50 years in prison.

Fifty-six-year-old Robin Root learned her punishment Wednesday after being convicted of second-degree murder in the death of 60-year-old Janna Kelly.

DNA linked Root to the killing in 2015. She earlier was convicted of first-degree murder, but an appeals court ordered a new trial because she wasn’t read Miranda rights.

Root owed $2,900 in back rent. She allegedly strangled Kelly during a December 2007 argument. Authorities say Root put duct tape on Kelly’s mouth, arms and legs while she was unconscious, then put her body in a car trunk and left her to freeze. She burned Kelly’s body in a field, where it was found months later.

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