Woman sentenced to 23 years in drunken Crock-Pot killing

DETROIT — A Detroit woman who was drunk when she killed a friend with a slow cooker during an argument over politics has been sentenced to at least 23 years in prison.

A judge on Monday followed the recommended sentence in the plea deal between Tewana Sullivan and prosecutors.

The 51-year-old Sullivan pleaded guilty but mentally ill to second-degree murder. She'll be eligible for parole after 23 years and will get mental health care in prison.

Sullivan beat 66-year-old Cheryl Livy with a slow cooker at the victim's Livonia apartment in October. Defense attorney John McWilliams says they were arguing about the 2016 race for president.

McWilliams says Sullivan's blood-alcohol level was 0.41 — five times the level for drunken driving in Michigan.