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Man sentenced to prison time in connection to Buckeye teen's death in 2015

Posted at 11:05 AM, Jun 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-15 21:18:58-04

A man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison in connection to the death of a teenager who was found dead near a walking path back in May of 2015. 

Richard  Anthony Burns Jr. had pled guilty to the 2nd degree murder of Matthew Christensen. 

Christensen, 19, had left to take a friend home around 9 p.m. but never returned. His family then reported him missing. Police discovered Christensen's body the next morning near 236th Lane and Hilton Avenue.

Several tips led police to Burns, 18 at the time, and Zackary Howard, 21 at the time, who admitted their involvement in the man's murder.

Police said Burns and Howard planned to rob Christensen. During the robbery, they shot him several times.

A Maricopa County judge sentenced Burns to 25 years in prison on Wednesday.