Man gets 35 yrs for killing girlfriend

KOKOMO, Ind. (WISH) - A judge accepted a guilty plea Tuesday from a man charged with killing a Kokomo woman.
 
As part of a plea deal, Travis Funke pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and will serve 35 years in prison and 15 years on probation.

Police say Funke admitted to the 2011 murder of his former girlfriend, Kelly Armstrong.

As part of the agreement, Funke must tell investigators where Armstrong's body is. Her body has never been found.

Armstrong was reported missing in September 2011. Howard County court documents say Funke admitted to killing her with a hammer and got rid of her body by dumping it in a trash can. Police searched the landfill, but never found Armstrong's body.

Armstrong's sister, Shelly, addressed Funke in court Tuesday. She told him her faith has allowed her to forgive him.

"I have the Lord and He forgives me and we are supposed to forgive others and I choose to live with no hate in my heart because I want to go to heaven to see my sister," Shelly Armstrong said.

Howard County Prosecutor Mark McCann said he, along with the Kokomo Police Department, will continue to try and locate Armstrong's body to help give her family closure.