A man has been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment over the death of a woman found at a hotel in Hastings in 2021.

Kyle Steven Williams, 35, was found guilty by a jury in the death of 36-year-old Kelly Jo Marie Kocurek.

Williams was found guilty of all four counts of first-degree murder during the course of domestic violence, premeditated first-degree murder, premeditated second-degree murder and first-degree assault.

The jury took less than a day to reach its verdict after a five-day trial. Williams was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

As previously reportedOn May 18, 2021, Hastings police officers responded to a medical call at a hotel and found Kocurek unresponsive on the ground with marks on his neck and bruises on his face. According to authorities, there were numerous cords near his body.

Kocurek was hospitalized and remained in a coma until his death five days later.

During the investigation, Williams told officers Kocurek tried to strangle herself and cut the cords around her neck.

However, the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that her death was a homicide and that most of the injuries were not self-inflicted. He also suffered multiple traumatic head injuries from physical assault.

“Justice was rightfully served today, as Mr. Williams will now be held accountable for his ongoing acts of domestic violence that culminated in Kelly’s violent murder,” said Dakota County District Attorney Kathy Keena. “While no outcome can fully heal the wounds of this heartbreaking incident, I hope today’s verdict brings some peace and comfort to Kelly’s family and loved ones.”