Man sentenced to life for girlfriend's murder - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

A Jackson County man received a life sentence for the murder of his girlfriend.

Family members of Lisa Harper said they're pleased with the judge's ruling and can only now hope to get some closure.

Michael Anthony Bunch showed no emotion and had nothing to say just before his life sentence for murder.

Bunch was convicted in November of 2012 in Harper's death.

Harper went missing in December 2009 and her body was later found near the Marshall and Jackson County line.

Bunch told investigators during that time he and Harper and another friend had been at a bar watching a football game, but after the pair went home she became upset and left the house on foot.

Bunch claimed he went to look for her and saw her but when he turned around in his car a few miles down the road, he said she had disappeared and he assumed she got a ride.

Defense attorneys asked the judge to consider Bunch's honorable discharge from the military, but prosecutors pointed to Bunch's criminal past of assault, including a domestic violence situation with his current girlfriend.

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