PAYETTE -- A Payette man who strangled his ex-girlfriend to death last summer was sentenced Thursday to 43 years in prison.
Cody Hays will have to spend at least 23 years behind bars before he becomes eligible for parole.
Hays, 24, killed 23-year-old Amber Schwenn inside his Center Avenue apartment. Her body was discovered July 25 after she failed to show up for work, alarming friends and family members. The victim's mother told police Schwenn had gone to Hays' home to drop off their toddler.
Hays was arrested after he was spotted driving his former girlfriend's car around Payette. Police say he confessed to the murder and told them where they could find Schwenn's body.
He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in February.
Schwenn's friends and family have said they hope the death of the young mother of two will shine a light on the issue of domestic violence and propel others to seek out help before it is too late.
Anyone in a violent relationship can call the 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 1-800-669-3176 for help.
