A St. Charles County man pled guilty this morning to second-degree murder for strangling his girlfriend to death. 28 year old Michael E. Estep, of the 1000 block of Providence Point, admitted he strangled 47 year old Tammy Hauser to death on October16. He told police he was in a "meth-induced rage" at the time of the killing. He was sentenced to life in prison. About 20 of Hauser's family and friends attended the sentencing hearing Friday morning. They said they were disappointed that Estep would not be found guilty of first-degree murder.

If he had, it would have meant a sentence of either death or life without parole. The second-degree murder conviction carries a maximum penalty of life with the possibility of parole. That type of life sentence is calculated as 30 years. Estep must serve at least 25 1/2 years in prison before he would be eligible for parole.Jerry Hauser Jr., one of Hauser's brothers, summed up the bitter feeling her survivors feel, "He's going to get to walk in 25 years, and Tammy's gone forever." Circuit Judge Ted House told Estep; "You are the face of evil.”