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2 women will spend decades in prison after killing Lawrence man, burning crime scene

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A woman who called a man 69 times on the day she killed him will spend at least 50 years in prison.

A Douglas County, Kansas judge sentenced Tria Evans, 39, Tuesday to life in prison with no chance of parole for 50 years.

Evans shot Joel Wales, the father of her daughter, six times on Nov. 3, 2017, at a house in Lawrence, Kansas, according to a news release from Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson.

Firefighters discovered Wales's body while putting out a fire set by Evans after the killing.

Her partner in the crime, Christina Towell, 38, pleaded guilty Thursday afternoon to first degree murder.

"This was a heinous and calculated murder,'' Branson said in a news release after today's plea. "We are very relieved to provide closure to Joel's family.''

Towell could be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

She will be sentenced on April 18.

Towell drove Evans to and from the murder scene and helped plan the killing, according to the news release.

Evans and Wales were in a custody fight over their child.

"Domestic violence takes many forms,'' Branson said in the release. "Joel Wales died as a result of domestic violence perpetrated upon him by Tria Evans. Her choice to take Joel's life now has robbed their child of both her parents.''