(COLORADO SPRINGS) — El Paso County 4th Judicial District Judge Erin Lynn Sokol leveled the maximum sentence to the man who pleaded guilty to killing a woman after throwing her out of her car outside of a Colorado Springs bingo hall.

The original incident happened around 2:45 p.m. on April 17, 2024, when Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) officers were sent to a call that reported a woman, 62-year-old Dorothy King, had been thrown from a moving car on South Academy Boulevard. CSPD said that medical personnel tried to save King, but she ultimately died of her injuries.

Less than a day later, CSPD reported that they found a car they suspected to be involved in the incident, but the driver, 35-year-old Nathaniel Buchmann, attempted to drive away until officers forced him to stop. At the time, Buchmann was already wanted on a warrant for Robbery and Motor Vehicle Theft, but an additional arrest warrant was issued, giving Buchmann Second Degree Murder and Vehicular Eluding charges added onto his arrest, also resulting in a $1 million bond.

According to court documents, Buchmann and the prosecution reached a plea agreement on July 29, in which Buchmann pleaded guilty to the April second-degree murder. The agreement also covered Buchmann’s previous charges for car theft.

In a sentencing hearing on Monday, Oct. 27, Judge Sokol handed down the maximum sentence for Buchmann’s guilty plea: 48 years, as well as an additional 12 years for the other charges, making a total of 60 years in prison.