YULEE, Fla. – The jury that convicted Michael Ratley of first-degree murder last month recommended Tuesday that he be given a life sentence without parole, and the judge agreed.
Once hailed as a hero for pulling his wife and newborn son out of their burning home, Ratley was convicted of murder in the beating death of his wife, Effie, on Jan. 27, 2007.
Recommended Videos
Four of the victim's family members offered emotional testimony during a sentencing hearing, with her father calling her death "the worst pain of my life."
Video:
Ratley's mother cried as she testified for the defense, calling her son, "A very loving and sensitive person."
Attorneys for both sides then made closing arguments before deliberations began about 1:30 p.m. The jury could have recommended the death penalty or the minimum mandatory sentence of life in prison.
After the jury returned its recommendation of life without parole about 4 p.m., Circuit Judge Robert Foster immediately pronounced sentence.
The family did not want to comment after the hearing, but prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda said the conviction was more important to them than his sentence.
"They were always hoping for (his) death, but they're happy he's going to get life and he's not going to be able to get out," de le Rionda said.