One of five people accused in the kidnapping and murder of Andrea Bartmess was sentenced Thursday to 75 years in prison.
Michael Bensen was convicted of 2nd degree murder and other charges.
Bartmess' remains were found Nov. 21, 2014 on Larimer County Road 74E near mile marker 10, better known as Red Feather Lakes Road, county officials said.
Bartmess, 28, was from the Denver metro area and was living in the Ft. Collins area, investigators said.
"Andrea had a heart of gold and could befriend anyone," her mother Wilma Cotten said in court. "There is a deep sadness in my soul that will never go away."
Cotten said she hopes she can forgive Bensen someday, "but that day is not today, and it will be a long time in coming."
Benson and four other people were charged in Bartmess' murder -- 21-year-old Chataigner McCaffrey-Pickett, 35-year-old Jose Rosario, 32-year-old Kimberly Guinn and and 51-year-old Patrick Hannon.
McCaffrey-Pickett, Rosario and Guinn pleaded guilty, but Benson and Hannon pleaded not guilty.
Bensen was charged with two counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping and unlawful sexual contact.
Hannon's trial is scheduled for February.
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