A judge in a Dubuque County court sentenced 22 year old William Forsythe of Galena to 50 years in prison Tuesday for killing his ex-girlfriend. Forsythe was sentenced in a packed courtroom at the Dubuque County Courthouse after previously pleading guilty to second-degree murder. Forsythe originally was charged with first-degree murder for the killing of his ex-girlfriend, 20 year old Jennifer Lopez, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge last month. The judge said seventy percent of the sentence must be served before Forsythe would be eligible for parole. Police discovered Lopez’ body at the Dubuque Botanical Gardens and Arboretum on February 1st after two hikers reported finding a bloody hat and a court-order GPS ankle bracelet belonging to Forsythe. Reports say Lopez was found to have what appeared to be approximately 15-20 stab wounds to her front, center and torso. One day earlier, police responded to an area just outside of the arboretum grounds after Forsythe’s ankle bracelet alarm went off. Attempts to locate him that day were unsuccessful. Shoe-prints of those being worn by Forsythe appeared consistent with prints located in snow at the scene.
