A murder trial in Morgantown comes to an abrupt end today as a judge hands down a 13-year prison sentence for a Butler County man accused of killing 35-year-old Teresa Childress back in 2000.

In a late afternoon decision a plea agreement was reached in the murder trial of Dennis Childers. But family members of the victim say the sentence just isn't enough.

"There ain't no excuse," said Jerline Wilkerson, the aunt of Teresa Childress.

It's not a sentence the family of Teresa Childress was hoping for.

"One time my son rode a lawnmower down the road and they gave him 11-months. And now, somebody just tortured somebody," she said after the ruling.

On Tuesday, Dennis Childers pleaded guilty to an amended charge of manslaughter and admitted to shooting and killing Childress in January of 2000.

"50 (years) wouldn't have been enough. Life wouldn't have been enough. That's not going to bring her back. She's dead," Wilkerson said.

"Given the brutality of the offense, I think more was warranted, but every plea bargain is a compromise," said Commonwealth Attorney Tim Coleman.

On Tuesday morning, the girlfriend of Dennis Childers at the time of Teresa's death took the stand, as a witness to the defense.

But Coleman says Gayla Keel's testimony indicated Childers in fact knew about her death prior to there being any official finding.

"I think that definitely played a role in the plea agreement," Coleman said.

"As a professional, that resolution in my opinion was warranted," said Gary Logsdon, defense attorney for Childers. "I could recommend that resolution to my client, and I did."

Logsdon says though there was no physical evidence in the case connecting Childers to the crime, he says evidence began developing from witnesses the Commonwealth presented.

"That created a strong indication that Mr. Childers, my client, the defendant, may have had some knowledge or some participation in these events," he said.

Still family members of Teresa Childress say justice wasn't fully served.

"I was thinking they would do something," Wilkerson said. "Like 20 years, 30 years? Thirteen, that ain't nothing."

Childers must serve at least 85-percent of his 13-year prison sentence before he's eligible for parole.

The murder, kidnapping and tampering with physical evidence charges were dropped.