Published: July 03, 2009 07:20 am      

Killer sentenced to life in prison

KALKASKA -- Sheldon McDonald will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

McDonald was found guilty last month of first-degree felony murder, first-degree child abuse, second-degree murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

A judge sentenced him to life in prison without parole Thursday.

McDonald, 26, was charged in the August death of Cody Cross, 3. Cody was unconscious and had a head injury when authorities arrived Aug. 1 at the downtown Kalkaska apartment where McDonald lived with the boy's mother, Pamela Buning. He died Aug. 3.