NJ man gets 31 years in prison for killing wife, dumping body

MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. (WPVI) -- A New Jersey man has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison in the choking death of his wife, whose body was found in Maryland by investigators using a GPS device in his vehicle.

Twenty-nine-year-old Kyle Crosby was sentenced Thursday to 31 years behind bars in the New Year's Eve 2014 killing of Erica Crippen.

"Hopefully, one day, you'll find it in your heart to forgive me," Crosby said in court. "I ask God to forgive me."

PHOTOS: Kyle Crosby in court for sentencing

Family members also had their say.

"Kyle, to be honest, the choices that you made caused Erica's death and you have taken someone so precious from us. But I will continue to raise Kaylee with the same love and passion that Erica would have raised her with," said Jasmine Garrett.

Prosecutors say the Mount Laurel man pleaded guilty in December to aggravated manslaughter and hindering apprehension in the death of his 26-year-old wife.

Investigators found Crippen's body in March 2015 along a rural road in Sykesville. She had been missing since New Year's Eve, and Crosby admitted choking her that day.

Prosecutors have said Crosby must serve 85 percent of the sentence for the manslaughter charge before he becomes eligible for parole.