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NYPD Criminologist's Killer Sentenced To Up To 37 Years
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 17, 2010
Modified Jun 17, 2010
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 17, 2010
Modified Jun 17, 2010
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The Irish national who killed his NYPD lab tech ex-girlfriend, last year was sentenced to 29 to 37 years in prison. Gary McGurk, who pleaded guilty to murdering Michelle Lee last month, apologized to her family in court.
According to the Daily News, he said, "I hope that in the years to come God will help you through this. Michelle is safe with him now. I don't ask for forgiveness because I don't deserve it... I will meet my maker one day and receive my punishment that day as I receive my punishment today. I can only hope the years to come will be easier... May she rest in peace."
Lee, who had met McGurk at John Jay, had also given McGurk money because he lied about having cancer. A prosecutor read from her journal, "Dear Journal, My mind is rambling... I'm not ready to lose Gar... I'm trying to figure out the right time to tell him I love him. I truly do... He's so brave. I can't stop thinking. I can't stop crying. I love him so much. I wish he would get better. I wish I could hold him forever."
McGurk had tried to cover up his tracks by creating a "psychopathic crime scene" in Lee's Sunnyside apartment—he burned Lee's belly with an iron, tied her to a bed with a cell phone charger cord, and stabbed her in the neck, as well as striking her in the head. Lee's sister told McGurk, "Knowing what you put her through makes my blood boil." Judge Gregory Lasak agreed to the plea deal to spare Lee's family a trial (the family agreed to the deal), but he said, "This makes no sense at all. You deserve a life sentence, Mr. McGurk. You know that."
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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