Man gets

life sentence

ANDERSON — A man standing trial for a second time in the death of his wife has been convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

A jury took less than an hour to find 44-year-old Johnny Ray Gambrell guilty Tuesday. His first trial ended in a mistrial when one juror said he was unsure authorities had found the remains of Gambrell’s wife.

Investigators testified Gambrell burned his wife’s body in his yard. Thirteen ounces of bone fragments were found in the ashes of the large bonfire, and DNA tests showed they belonged to Gambrell’s wife, according to testimony.

Lois Gambrell has not been seen since July 2004 when two neighbors saw Johnny Gambrell set a large fire in his yard and burned several items from the home, including a mattress, police said.

Lois Gambrell’s family accepted the life sentence. ‘‘We street no more to hurt anyone else,’’ her mother Frances King said. ‘‘I just hope every time Johnny Ray shuts his eyes, he will see Lois’ face. I hope he suffers like our family has suffered.’’

Man charged

in baby’s death

FLORENCE — A Hartsville man has been charged with homicide by child abuse five months after his 2-month-old child was found dead in a crib.

Antonio Terrell McCall, 21, was arrested Tuesday, Hartsville Police Chief Tim Kemp said.

Darlington County Coroner Todd Hardee said an autopsy showed the child was killed by someone else.

The child was found dead Sept. 21 in a crib, Kemp said.

State and local prosecutors along with the State Law Enforcement Division helped investigate the case, Kemp said.