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Bernard McClaney was sentenced to 55 years in prision after admitting he killed Artie Rittenhouse in 1998.

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Man gets 55 years for 1998 murder

Updated: Friday, 08 Feb 2013, 1:56 PM EST
Published : Friday, 08 Feb 2013, 1:56 PM EST

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The man who was accused of killing a 19-year-old back in 1998 was sentenced to 55 years in prison Friday.

Bernard McClaney, 36, will serve 55 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections following the sentence he is currently serving in Toledo, Ohio.

Wednesday morning, McClaney pleaded guilty to killing Artie Rittenhouse.

Rittenhouse's mother found him dead in their family home on Hamilton Avenue. According to the affidavit for probable cause, his mother found a black bag near his body that did not belong there, but officers could not test for DNA and fingerprints back then.

A new detective was assigned to the case in 2009. He sent the bag in for DNA testing. The results from the DNA testing at the Indiana State Police Laboratory came in September 2011. Testing revealed McClaney committed the murder.

McClaney is currently serving time in prison in Toledo, Ohio for aggravated battery and voluntary manslaughter.

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