ELYRIA -- The man who pleaded guilty to killing Tierra Bryant will serve 23 years behind bars for her death.
Judge Michael Jackson imposed an 11-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter on Rashan Hunt Monday afternoon. He also imposed eight years for being a repeat violent offender, three years for tampering with evidence, one year for abuse of a corpse and 90 days for obstructing official business. Hunt will serve the sentences consecutively. He pleaded guilty to the charges last month.
Hunt, who also goes by Rashad, was arrested in June 2017 for the death of Bryant, who disappeared from a Middleburg Heights hotel in March 2015.
Hunt's family members delivered tearful statements to court ahead of Jackson's decision. See Bryant's father's emotional statement in the video below.
Hunt also read a prepared statement, in which he apologized to Bryant's family. See his full statement in the video at the top of this story.
Bryant's remains were found in a wooded area near West River Road and Massey Avenue in Elyria. Hunt was arrested in Sacramento, California the following day. He was formally indicted for her death last July. The prosecutor's office says Hunt confessed to the killing and evidence linked him to the investigation.