Munising convicted killer resentenced to increased jail time

A Munising man convicted of accidentally killing his girlfriend in 2012 by backing over her with his truck has been re-sentenced in Alger County Circuit Court.

Thomas Murdock, 50, killed Lisa Hardwick in AuTrain Township in June 2011. Judge William Carmody initially sentenced Murdock to two years in prison, a year less than state sentencing guidelines call for.

Alger County Prosecutor Karen Bahrman appealed the sentence. The Michigan Court of Appeals sent the case back to Judge Carmody and he imposed the original sentence again. Bahrman appealed again, and the appeals court ruled that Murdock needed to be re-sentenced by a new judge. Delta County Circuit Judge Stephen Davis was chosen for the task.

On Thursday, Judge Davis sentenced Murdock to four and a half years to fifteen years in prison with credit for 695 days served.

Murdock will now continue his sentence at the Newberry Correctional Facility.