A Newark New Jersey man was sentenced to 25 years in state prison for strangling a woman to death in 2012.

According to Essex County prosecutors, the 46-year-old suspect strangled the 58-year-old victim and then threw her body into the Passaic River in Newark, NJ.

Both the suspect and the victim were homeless and reportedly living on the streets, near the Passaic River in Newark NJ, when the homicide occurred.

The victim’s sister tried to call the victim on Thanksgiving morning in 2012; however, the victim’s cell phone was unable to receive messages. Not long after that, the victim’s sister got a phone call from the suspect, who reportedly said that the victim was dead.

Newark authorities found the victim’s body in the Passaic River near the 900 block of Route 21.

The primary cause of the victim’s death was listed as strangulation. However, medical examiners also indicated that the victim sustained stab wounds and blunt force trauma to the head.

Police eventually gathered enough evidence to link the suspect to the murder. He was placed under arrest in connection with the homicide.

In June 2015, the suspect reached a plea dead with Essex County prosecutors and pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter.

The suspect was recently sentenced for the homicide. An Essex County superior court judge accepted the recommendation of prosecutors and sentenced the suspect to 25 years in NJ State Prison.

The suspect will have to serve more than 21 years in state prison before is eligible for release on parole.

The suspect, who reportedly has mental health issues, will initially be placed in a psychiatric hospital in order to receive mental health treatment.

For further information about this case, read the NJ.com article entitled “N.J. Man Sentenced for Strangling Woman to Death, Dumping Body in River.”