A Springfield man has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for murder, according to the Belleville News-Democrat. The sentence closes a case that drew local attention in the Metro East area of southern Illinois. Court records and prosecutors’ handling of the case form the basis of the sentence handed down by the court. The lengthy term reflects the severity of the crime and the weight given to the victim’s death. Families and the community are now left to absorb the outcome of the case.