An Athens man will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing his girlfriend by setting her on fire nearly two years ago, the Athens Banner-Herald has reported.

Phillip Scruggs received the maximum sentence of life without parole after a jury found him guilty of murdering Elissa Denise “Lisa” Davenport, the Banner-Herald said.

Clarke County Superior Court Judge Steve Jones Tuesday afternoon.

Scruggs doused Davenport with a flammable liquid and set her on fire inside her apartment at Bethel Midtown Village on Aug. 18, 2009, the Banner-Herald said. The 42-year-old single mother with three grandchildren died 12 days later, having suffered burns on about 60 percent of her body, the newspaper said..

After a week-long trial, jurors found Scruggs guilty of malice murder, three counts of felony murder, aggravated assault with intent to commit murder, first-degree arson and aggravated assault, according to the Banner-Herald.

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Yemaya Lyles (right) wipes away tears during a news conference in front of the Rockdale County Public Schools administration building on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. Lyles' son, Antonio, was assaulted by a paraprofessional, who has since been fired and charged with battery. Lyles says her case against the school district has dragged on since then. (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2023)

Credit: Miguel Martinez