Jeffery Trevino sentenced to 27 1/2 years for wife's murder

Lindsey Seavert, KARE 11 News

Jeffery Trevino has been sentenced to 27 and a half years in prison in connection to the death of his wife, Kira Steger.

Ramsey County Judge Leonardo Castro exceeded the maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for a charge of unintentional second-degree murder.

Trevino's attorney had been seeking a sentence of 10 and a half years in prison, but prosecutors were seeking a 30-year prison term for Trevino due to the specific nature of the crime.

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"No matter how much time you give Mr. Trevino, it's not enough," said Jay Steger, Kira's father.

Members of Kira's family gave emotional testimony at Monday's sentencing hearing.

"Jeffery had months to confess, months to tell the truth and he intentionally did not. He made my family suffer. This isn't a crime of passion. He is a monster and a calculated criminal who used his military training to kill Kira. He deserves no Mercy," said Keri Anne Steger, Kira's sister.

Trevino was convicted of killing his wife and dumping her body in the Mississippi River.

"He dumped my daughter like a piece of trash into the nation's most polluted body of water. He hid her body in the filthy ice cold Mississippi River. He didn't even leave her clothes or leave her with as much as her dignity," said Marcie Steger, Kira's mother.

Steger, who grew up near Wausau, Wis., went missing the night of Feb. 21.

Used with permission from KARE 11.