Oregon Man Gets Life For Runaway's Murder

HILLSBORO, Ore.

A Hillsboro man has been sentenced to life in prison for the June 1989 slaying of a 15-year-old Forest Grove runaway.

Michael L. Wheeler, 31, was ordered Friday to serve a minimum 25-year term by Washington County Circuit Judge Jon Lund. The term is the longest minimum term allowed for a life sentence.

Wheeler was convicted in March of murdering Autumn Marie Chinn, a runaway formerly known as Tracey Bryant of Aloha, and throwing her body in to the Tualatin River. Her body was found in the water June 17.

Diana Chinn, the girl's mother, said after the hearing that it lessened her grief to know Wheeler would be in prison for the maximum time allowed.