Jessie McCord plead guilty last week to the murder of his ex-wife, Denise Banks which occurred last summer. 

The jury heard five days of testimony in the sentencing phase of the trial that wrapped up on Tuesday.  The jury ruled that McCord receive a life sentence for the first degree felony and a $10,000 fine.  McCord will have to serve a minimum of 30 years in prison to be eligible for parole.

Although pleading guilty to the murder, McCord told the jury that he committed a crime of passion, but the jury sided with the district attorney’s argument that the murder was premeditated.

Denise Banks was killed on August 20, 2008 and her body was found in the Brownwood landfill the following day by workers.