Kansas woman gets 20 years for Missouri stabbing death

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – A Kansas woman has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in the stabbing death of a man whose body was found in a northwest Missouri river.

The St. Joseph News-Press reports that 44-year-old Kelli Hoard, of Elwood, Kansas, was sentenced Monday for the death of 28-year-old Richard Berry. His body was discovered in April beside the Third Fork of the Platte River near a bridge.

Hoard, also known as Kelli Reeves, was among three people charged in the killing.

A probable cause statement alleges Hoard stabbed the victim with a two knives, while the two men pinned Berry to the ground.

The prosecution says the autopsy showed Berry had been stabbed 37 times in the groin and buttocks.

The defense, in an attempt for a lesser sentence, noted that Hoard had no prior record.

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 8:59 AM with the headline "Kansas woman gets 20 years for Missouri stabbing death."