Man Gets Life Term for Murder-Rape in 1985
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An Arroyo Grande man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for raping and killing a university student more than 20 years ago.
Peter Anthony Derks, 58, pleaded guilty Sept. 9 to the October 1985 rape and murder of Mary Catherine Waterbury in Montana de Oro State Park. He was sentenced Monday.
Derks was linked to the crime through DNA last year.
Waterbury, 23, was a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Her half-clothed and battered body was discovered in the park several days after she was reported missing by her roommate.
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