GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi Gulf Coast man has been convicted of murder in the 2015 death of a woman whose remains were dumped in a river after she was strangled to death and her body burned.

Jurors found 31-year-old Joshua Peterman guilty of first-degree murder Friday in the death of 29-year-old Tena Broadus after three hours of deliberation.

Peterman will be sentenced July 12 and prosecutors want him imprisoned for life without parole under the state’s habitual offender law.

Peterman addressed jurors in closing arguments, denying any involvement in Broadus’ death.

A number of witnesses already jailed for their parts in the death testified to Peterman’s guilt.

Prosecutors admitted the witnesses were methamphetamine users, but said they saw the killing while getting high at Peterman’s house.