Andrelo Witcher, 39, was convicted last month in the death of his former girlfriend Heather Ann MacCrossen, who has not been seen since 2007.

Andrelo Witcher was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison for the death of his former girlfriend Heather Ann MacCrossen, who went missing 11 years ago.

No one has seen the Newberry woman since August 2007, when she came back to Florida after seeking refuge with her family in Michigan after Witcher had beaten her.

A jury in December was convinced solely on witness testimony that Witcher killed MacCrossen.

There’s no DNA trail, blood or fingerprints that have led investigators to a homicide scene, MacCrossen’s body or to Witcher.

Witcher, 39, was found guilty of manslaughter on Dec. 6, 2018. Circuit Judge Mark Moseley sentenced Witcher Friday.

He must serve at least 15 years of the sentence. Witcher, wearing a red jumpsuit, sat slumped in his chair for the majority of his sentencing.

Moseley told Witcher after sentencing him to three decades in the Florida Department of Corrections that he'd most likely "see the light of day again" and that he hopes during his time in prison he can better himself.

"Mr. Witcher, I hope you can make a contribution to the world and leave it a better place than you have done thus far," Moseley said. "You've robbed this world of a life."

Before Witcher's sentencing, the MacCrossen family addressed the court.

"A piece of (MacCrossen's son Brandon) has been missing all his life ... he never got to know his mother," Janell MacCrossen said. "I lost a daughter. She was a good mother and a good person.

"I feel like I'm living a dream, but it's more like a nightmare. I have to live with this every single day of my life."

In December, it took five hours of deliberation for the jury, made up of five women and a man, to reach a verdict. State prosecutors built their case largely on the testimony of MacCrossen’s family and friends.

MacCrossen’s family testified they heard Witcher threaten to kill MacCrossen and her family via a cell phone. They said he told MacCrossen if he killed her, her family would never find her.

Her body has never been found.

During Witcher’s trial, defense attorneys argued that without even being able to say where or how MacCrossen died, the state couldn’t have met its burden of proof.

However, the state’s presentation of Witcher’s history of abuse, circumstantial evidence and witness testimonies of Witcher’s threats was enough to convince the jury.

Witcher was also the last person believed to have contact with MacCrossen, who told her mother Witcher was picking her up from Gainesville’s Greyhound bus station as she returned to Florida after a stay in Michigan, where her family lived.

Witcher's past convictions included burglary, lewd and lascivious conduct, drug charges, and fleeing and eluding police, which proved to Moseley that Witcher should be sentenced as a habitual felon, allowing him to impose a 30 year sentence, instead of the 15-year maximum sentence for manslaughter.

"He has continued to conduct in criminal behavior," Moseley said. "He is a danger to the public."

MacCrossen’s death, considered a cold case, was investigated by Alachua County Sheriff’s Office cold case detective Kevin Allen.

The state was represented by prosecutor Cass Castillo and defense attorney Stephen Bernstein represented Witcher.

Bernstein said Friday the verdict and sentence would be appealed.

After the sentencing, Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell gave credit to Allen for his diligent investigative work, state attorney Bill Cervone for appointing Castillo, who has expertise in handling cases without a body as evidence, as the case's prosecutor, and the six-member jury for completing their civic duty.

"What an amazing jury it was that sat on this case," Darnell said. "These were individuals who were able to set aside any biases, listen to the testimony and make a conscious decision."

Castillo told the MacCrossen family he gets a lot of credit but even more credit is due to Allen for his work.

"(Allen) refused to believe that nothing could be done with this case," he said.

Allen put his hands up as to reject the praise and said, "Justice has been served," which made the MacCrossen family smile even more.

The family said they were satisfied with Witcher's sentence but closure for them will come when Heather MacCrossen is found.

"(Witcher) is a cold-hearted person," Brandy MacCrossen said — the reason she gives for why she believes Witcher has not disclosed Heather MacCrossen's location.

"He thought he was going to get away with this ... He'll be 69 when he gets out. Hopefully he doesn't live that long."

The MacCrossens are also hopeful Heather MacCrossen will eventually be found.

"(Closure will come) when we bring her home," Janell MacCrossen said. "The hardest part is not knowing where she's at. And I won't ever give up."