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Detroit Teen Gets 30-60 Years In Prison For Murder Of 91-Year-Old Neighbor

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - An 18-year-old Detroit man will spend 30 to 60 years in prison for the slaying of a 91-year-old neighbor.

George Stewart IV was sentenced Friday in Wayne County Circuit Court.

Paul Monchnik was beaten Nov. 23, 2015 and his home was set on fire. A medical examiner testified during Stewart's preliminary examination that an accelerant-type liquid was found in Monchnik's stomach and that the elderly man may have been forced to drink it or it was forced into his throat.

After surveillance video showed a young man driving Monchnik's van to a nearby gas station to purchase gasoline in cans, Stewart — who had been living next door to Monchnik — turned himself in to police.

At the time of his arrest, Stewart's family members seemed shocked by the accusations; one relative telling WWJ, "…He's supposed to be at Romulus High School playing basketball, going to class like all his siblings." He pleaded guilty Sept. 16 to second-degree murder.

Scott Monchnik said in court Friday that his father's "life was brutally taken ... by a monster."

According to family members, Monchnik was a widower and father of three who had lived in his home for 65 years. He worked for more than 50 years as a self-employed television repairman before retiring.

TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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