A man who was convicted in the 1975 cold case murder of Laurel Mitchell, 17, has been sentenced in Noble County Court.

Fred Bandy Jr., 57, has been sentenced to life in prison. but will have the possibility of parole as he was sentenced in accordance with Indiana state law from 1975 that did not include life without parole sentences.

He and John Lehman were arrested in February of last year for the murder, with Lehman pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit murder.

It was August of 1975 when Lauren Mitchell’s body was found, drowned in a river near her home.

He family and local law enforcement have been searching for answers for decades.