Illinois man gets 67 years in Indiana woman's killing

CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) - An Illinois man has been sentenced to 67 years in the shooting death of a northwestern Indiana woman whose body was found in casino's parking garage.

The (Munster) Times reports (http://bit.ly/1Z7Thjd ) 60-year-old Ralph Martinez of Alsip, Illinois, was silent during Wednesday's hearing, aside from telling the judge he wants to appeal his conviction.

A Lake County jury convicted Martinez in August of murder, murder in the perpetration of a robbery, robbery and criminal confinement in the March 2013 death of 76-year-old Mary Austgen of St. John, Indiana.

Prosecutors said Martinez hid for hours in a bathroom at Austgen's family business in Griffith before tackling Augsten from behind and pulling a gun on her. Her body was found in her SUV, parked in a garage at Gary's Majestic Star Casino.

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Information from: The Times, http://www.thetimesonline.com