Tulare man sentenced to life without parole for murder of neighbor

Brandon McDuffie, 21, of Tulare, was sentenced to life in prison Friday for the murder of a 69-year-old neighbor during a robbery gone bad, the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office said.

In the early morning hours of July 5, 2013, McDuffie broke into his neighbor’s home in Tulare. When confronted by the victim, McDuffie struck him on the head and face several times, causing the man’s death. He then ransacked the home, stealing the man’s phone, safe, jewelry, television and other items, the DA’s office said.

Detectives traced the phone to McDuffie’s home, where they found the man’s stolen property.

McDuffie was convicted Sept. 28 of first degree murder, residential robbery and burglary, and faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

This story was originally published November 8, 2015 at 7:22 PM with the headline "Tulare man sentenced to life without parole for murder of neighbor."