Missouri man gets life in prison in death of hotel manager

ST. LOUIS -- A Southeast Missouri man was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 40 years for killing a hotel night manager last year.

Joseph Bowens, 45, of Poplar Bluff was sentenced Tuesday. He was found guilty of first-degree murder in April.

The manager, Scott Knopfel, 50, of St. Louis, was fatally shot during a robbery Jan. 15, 2015, at a Drury Inn & Suites hotel near Interstate 44 in St. Louis. Police said Knopfel was shot in the chest and face.

Bowens was captured days later. He had previous convictions for a drug crime, robbery, assault and driving while intoxicated, and had repeatedly violated terms of his probation and parole.