EARLY, Iowa (AP) – A northwest Iowa man convicted of killing his mother and kidnapping another woman has been sentenced to life in prison.  A jury found 21-year-old Kirk Levin guilty in June of first-degree murder in the January death of 45-year-old Marilynn Schmitt and third-degree kidnapping in the abduction of a woman he met online. On Friday, Judge Timothy J. Finn gave Levin a life sentence.  Finn also rejected Levin’s request for a new trial.

Levin’s trial was moved to Webster County because of heavy publicity. His attorney argued a second change of venue request should have been granted. The attorney also says Levin’s statements to police after his arrest should have been inadmissible evidence at trial.