TAMPA - A man who stabbed a woman 59 times, killing her in a 1983 robbery, will spend the rest of his life in prison. At a Tampa meeting of the Florida Parole Commission on Wednesday, Gary Leonard Tillman’s sentence was extended until 2099.

Tillman, 44, admitted to attacking Marjorie Shannon, 22, in August 1983. She stopped to use a pay phone outside a Thonotosassa convenience store when Tillman grabbed her, dragged her behind the store, stabbed her, then robbed the store.

Tillman pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to death. The Florida Supreme Court overturned the sentence in 1991, ruling the plea agreement left out too many details of the crime to uphold the death penalty. His sentence was commuted to life in prison. Under 1983 rules, Tillman served 25 years before he was eligible for parole. At Wednesday’s hearing, the commission determined he would not be released for 92 years.

Under Florida law, those sentenced to life in prison no longer are eligible for parole.

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