Winfield ? A judge on Friday followed a jury’s recommendation and sentenced an Arkansas City man to death for killing a college student more than two years ago.

Justin Thurber did not say anything or show any emotion as Cowley County District Judge Jim Pringle announced the sentence, which a jury had recommended last month after finding Thurber guilty of capital murder in the January 2007 death of 19-year-old Jodi Sanderholm.

If Pringle had chosen not to follow the jury’s advice, the only other possible sentence would have been life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Pringle also sentenced Thurber to 176 months for aggravated kidnapping.

The Cowley College student was abducted, raped and strangled, her body found several days after her disappearance in a wildlife area near Arkansas City.

Sanderholm’s family members said they were happy with the death sentence and that they now won’t have to worry about Thurber hurting anybody again.

Thurber’s parents cried when the judge announced the sentence. Thurber’s defense attorney, Tom Frieden, did not immediately return a call seeking comment late Friday afternoon.

Sanderholm’s mother, Cindy Sanderholm, said that she and her family were relieved that the legal process is over.

Cowley County Attorney Chris Smith said the prosecution intended to finish the necessary paperwork so Thurber would be transferred later Friday to the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Sanderholm said she was also relieved about that.

“I hated living 15 minutes from him,” Sanderholm said. “He’s just gone now. That’s what matters.”

Pringle earlier denied a defense motion for a new trial, ruling there was enough evidence for the jury to conclude that the crime was committed in a heinous, atrocious and cruel manner.

The judge also rejected a motion filed Thursday that argued Thurber was mentally retarded and therefore not subject to the death penalty.

Responding to questions from the judge about evidence, Frieden said he had no evidence beyond what was presented in trial.

Assistant Attorney General Vic Braden argued that one of the defense’s own witnesses had testified he didn’t believe Thurber was retarded. Thurber was a high school graduate and completed 64 credits at Cowley College.

Ten inmates already face death sentences in Kansas, but the state has not executed anyone since June 22, 1965, when James Latham and George York, serial killers in their 20s, went to the gallows.