Stanley Liggins was sentenced to life in prison Thursday afternoon, nearly 29 years after Jennifer Lewis' burning body was found at a school playground in Davenport.
Scott County Judge Marlita Greve handed the down the sentence after a month-long trial in April.
The nine-year-old Rock Island girl's mother, Sherry McCormick, read a victim impact statement after his sentencing. In the middle, she couldn't control herself and lunged at Liggins.
"I hate you ! Why did you do that to her ? Why Stanley, why ? Why did he do that ?"
McCormick was restrained by Assistant Scott County Attorney, Julie Walton.
And the girl's godmother, MaryRockwell, finished reading McCormick's statement from the witness stand.
"She's a hero. With the airing of the podcast, millions of people around the world now know who Jennifer Ann Lewis was. And have fallen in love with our girly girl tomboy. Millions are rooting for her justice, but we already know she was worth fighting for. What makes her the true hero she is, is that no other child or human being will ever be harmed or destroyed at your hand."
This is the third time Liggins has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars. His two previous convictions were overturned by appellate courts.
In April, another jury found him guilty of first degree murder. Iowa law mandates a life sentence for all first degree murder convictions.
The podcast, "Suspect Convictions," about the murder of Jennifer Lewis, was a joint project of WVIK and Journalist Scott Reeder. At one point, iTunes ranked it as the second most popular podcast in the world.
