A Forest Lake man has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for killing his girlfriend and leaving her body in their apartment until neighbors complained of the odor.

Lauren Mason Grove Lynch, 28, was convicted in April of the second-degree intentional murder of Grace Ann Vannorman, 36, in September 2015.

Police were called to a Forest Lake apartment building in the 900 block of 12th Street SW. on reports from neighbors about what they thought was a dead body.

At the apartment door police encountered Lynch, who held out his wrists for handcuffs and told them, "She's inside."

Officers found Vannorman's body covered by blankets near a couch. The Ramsey County medical examiner's office later ruled that she died as a result of homicidal violence. The primary cause of death was asphyxiation.

Lynch told investigators that he and Vannorman had been arguing and that the dispute had turned violent. He said he punched her in the face, tried to strangle her and finally smothered her with a pillow.

Lynch also said he stabbed her in the neck several times with a kitchen knife, according to the criminal complaint.

Lynch didn't call for help and "remained with the body" for three days until officers arrived, the complaint said.

Judge Gregory Galler, at the Aug. 5 hearing, gave Lynch credit for 330 days spent in custody since his arrest.

Galler ordered Lynch to pay $8,355 in restitution from prison wages before sending him to St. Cloud prison.

Kevin Giles • 651-925-5037