Erik Grumpelt admitted he killed his girlfriend and lived with her corpse for more than two months. (Source: CBS 5 News)PHOENIX (CBS5) -
A man who admitted killing his girlfriend and living with her decomposing body for more than two months received a 14-year sentence.
On Friday afternoon, the judge sentenced Erik Grumpelt, of Chandler, to the maximum term with the plea deal. Grumpelt did receive 584 days of credit for time he has served.
Grumpelt pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the murder of Malinda Raya, 39, in Mesa.
He told detectives he became angry when Raya told him she'd been sleeping with other men.
Grumpelt told police he struck Raya several times in the abdomen with his knee on May 19, 2011, and left her on her bed. He said that when he returned, she was unresponsive.
Police said they found the body of Raya under a bed wrapped in several sheets in their Mesa home. Police said carpet freshener and carpet deodorizer, along with several stand-alone fragrance containers, were used to conceal the stench.
Grumpelt tested positive for amphetamine and confessed to having a drug addiction.
Grumpelt's father said his son admitted to sexually assaulting Raya and that he lived with the corpse for more than two months.
Stay with cbs5az.com and CBS 5 News as this story develops.
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