- Antonio Cochran, 36, was convicted Saturday of Zoe Hastings’ murder
- Hastings was returning a movie to a Redbox machine when Cochran kidnapped her
- Her body was found near a creek bed with her throat slashed
- Cochran’s DNA was found on a bloody knife nearby
A Texas man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after being sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a teen girl who was returning a movie to a Redbox machine.
Antonio Cochran, 36, was sentenced following his conviction for the murder of 18-year-old Zoe Hastings in 2015.
Hastings was returning a movie to a Redbox machine in a Walgreens parking lot in Lake Highlands, Texas when Cochran got into her vehicle, kidnapping her.
Cochran also allegedly sexually assaulted Hastings before killing her by slashing her throat.
Cochran’s DNA was found on a bloody knife recovered at the murder scene.
‘There are no words that can express our sorrow to the Hastings family for having to endure such a traumatic and tragic loss. We will continue to pray for them and while we cannot bring Zoe back, we hope this outcome will help them heal,’ Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson said in a statement.
Hastings father, Jim, had harsh words for his daughters killer, telling him, ‘I hope you remember my face.’
“I believe if he gets out of prison, he’s going to do the same thing to somebody else. I’d hate that my daughter died and he goes and does it to somebody else,” he added.
Cochran was convicted of his crimes on Saturday. On top of his jail sentence, he received a find of $10,000.
Hastings was returning a movie to a Redbox when Cochran kidnapper her outside a Texas Walgreens
Hastings, 18, had her throat cut and her body was found near a Texas creek bed
The Hastings family (pictured above) has had a hard time dealing with their 18-year old daughters 2015 murder
The minivan she was driving when she was abducted and killed was ditched near where her body was found