Husband sentenced to 36 years in prison for wife's death

David White, 40 was convicted of 2nd degree murder in Florida, which carries a maximum sentence of life (which is always without parole in FL), for the July 2005 murder of his wife Andrea. Her mother, Janice Friend, says that "He's going to be miserable every day of his life. It's not a happy place to be and that's where he belongs."

White did not get a formal sentence of life, but that may not matter as Circuit Judge Thane Covert sentenced him to 36 years in prison with another decade suspended. With all Florida prisoners required to serve at least 85% of their sentence, White will be at least 70 before release.

Forensic experts found Andrea White, 33 and a mother of 4, facedown in a pond, and could not say exactly how she died.

But they did rule out a natural death. That, combined with the circumstances of how she was found -- submerged in a pond, barefoot and dressed for bed, miles from home without her insulin shots for diabetes -- led authorities to believe she had been suffocated, then dumped there.

David White claimed his wife tried to shoot him late one night, then stormed out of their house, got into a blue vehicle and disappeared. It was July 11, 2005, the night authorities believe Andrea White was killed.

But the state put on witnesses who each related a different story from White during his wife's disappearance. White even told his wife's children conflicting stories. He then moved to New York with the two daughters he had with the victim, the state pointed out, the day her body was found.

Before sentencing, White asked Judge Covert for leniency.

"I know they point the finger at me. But my children, and the people who know me, know I had nothing to do with my wife's death. I ask you, your honor, please don't take my children's father away from them also."

Judge Covert denounced him as he cited the indifference of the defendant to his wife's death.

"What I do see as a common theme throughout this is a true indifference to her death," the judge said, "an indifference to what happened to her."