PITTSBURGH -- A Scott Township man who was found guilty of murdering his wife received a life sentence without the possibility of parole on Tuesday.

Henry Lanz, 42, was convicted of first-degree murder in September in the shooting death of his wife, Paula Lanz.

Karl Laughlin, an accomplice in the crime, received 2½ to five years in prison after copping a plea deal in the murder of Paula Lanz.

“It was awfully hard, but I’m glad it’s all over,” said Judy Dames, Paula Lanz’s aunt. “Paula can rest in peace, and maybe we’ll get some peace out of this.”

Judge Jeffrey Manning called the crime bizarre, off the charts and a heinous, heartless act of cruelty and murder.

Prosecutors said Henry Lanz killed his estranged wife because their marriage had fallen apart, and she wanted him out of their Scott Township house.

Paula Lanz’s body was found inside a torched SUV in Nashville, Tenn.

Karl Laughlin took the plea deal after admitting he drove the body to Nashville in an SUV and set fire to the vehicle.

Laughlin testified against Henry Lanz and said he saw Lanz shoot his wife in the head.

Dames said she believes she knows why Henry Lanz killed her niece.

"Paula and him were not getting along," said Dames. "Paula wanted to leave him, and he wanted to control her. He didn't want her to leave. In his mind, it was better to get rid of her. I don't understand it."

In court, Laughlin turned and begged the victim's family to forgive him.

"I really appreciated Karl saying that what he did was not nice, and it was terrible, but at least he was remorseful," said Dames.