A man who beat his girlfriend to death on Short Sands Beach in York was sentenced to 40 years behind bars on Wednesday.

According to CBS 13 News, Jeffrey Buchannan admitted to murdering his girlfriend and mother of three children, Rhonda Pattelena, in 2021. Buchannan is the father of the youngest boy.

Witnesses called police after watching Buchannan hit a woman and drag her behind rocks. The witnesses also reported watching him walk off the beach with pants soaked in blood.

Buchannan pleaded guilty to murder earlier this month.