Gordon Franklin McMullen, who has spent much of his life behind bars, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for fatally stabbing a 92-year-old Charlotte woman as she returned home from church in April 2008.

The crime against the Sunday School class treasurer who talked proudly of renewing her driver's license for five more years tore at her family, her church and the community.

McMullen, 50, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, armed robbery, first-degree kidnapping, and breaking and entering in connection with Mildred Clontz's slaying.

"This defendant preyed upon an elderly woman, and with this conviction we can be certain he can never hurt another member of this community," Mecklenburg Assistant District Attorney Gabrielle Macon said. "After consultation with the victim's family, we are pleased to have secured a life sentence without the possibility of parole."

McMullen cried in court Thursday while apologizing to Clontz's family.

Clontz's 70-year-old son, Jerry Clontz, told the Observer Friday the family is satisfied with McMullen's punishment. "We wanted him out of commission where he couldn't do this to anyone else," he said.

Clontz said he had expected McMullen to go on trial for his mother's killing. "He'd probably end up with life in prison anyway, because it's hard to get the death penalty," he said.

"It's not going to bring back my mother anyway. Basically we're glad it's over...We're very satisfied that Charlotte's law enforcement did what needed to be done. The man who killed my mom, he spoke. It was somewhat surprising because he was nonthreatening and said he was sorry for what he'd done."

But Clontz added: "There's no excuse for what he did to her. A 92-year-old lady in the privacy of her own kitchen - he doesn't have to stab her to get her pocketbook. That would be the work of a wild man."

Homicide detectives were led to McMullen by his use of the victim's credit cards and cellphone.

One of nine children, Clontz was born and raised on a farm in Union County before moving to Charlotte for most of her adult life. In 2008, the elderly widow lived alone in a one-story brick house on Knickerbocker Drive in east Charlotte, near Rama and Monroe roads.

She recounted her attack to police and relatives before dying of her injuries the next day.

Clontz told them she had just come home from Midwood Baptist Church. After she unlocked two deadbolts and pushed open her front door, her killer shoved her inside. He stabbed her in the neck, torso and back, relatives said. He left after stealing her purse, credit cards and driver's license.

Clontz told her family that she then reached for the phone on the wall and called 911.

She died the next day in the hospital - but not before telling her son she would forgive her attacker.

"That was just the kind of person she was," Jerry Clontz told the Observer. "Faith was important to her."

Clontz's friend Ann Ferguson said at the time that the killing was senseless: "Mildred would have given him the money."

Ferguson taught the Joy Workers class that Clontz attended, whose members range in age from 70 to 102. The name comes from a Bible passage in Galatians that celebrates the work of God. "The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control," it reads.

"It fit Mildred perfectly," Ferguson said. "She lived her Christianity. She didn't deserve this."

The Rev. Garry Baldwin called Clontz "a fantastic member. If someone needed assistance, she was there. She always had a heart to help."

Baldwin said that over time people worried about Clontz and feared for her safety. "But she was not afraid," Baldwin said. "She was never afraid."

Baldwin says her death hurt the congregation - especially those in the Joy Workers class. Members placed a big white bow on an empty chair where she normally sat. On the table in front of the chair was a photo of Clontz and a small candle.

McMullen has served 20 years in N.C. prisons. He committed a string of robberies in the 1980s. His criminal history began as a juvenile and escalated from stealing a credit card to forging signatures to committing armed robberies, said Keith Acree, a spokesman for the N.C. Department of Correction.

Prosecutors had announced in June 2008 - two months after Clontz's slaying - that they would seek the death penalty against McMullen.

Defense attorney Norman Butler told the Observer that he sought the deal from prosecutors. McMullen would plead guilty to first-degree murder and the three other felonies and agree to a life sentence without parole if prosecutors would not try him for his life.

"When I have a client who is exposed to the risk of being executed and a plea offer is made that would save his life, what I do is make sure he understands the risks of a death penalty trial," Butler said. "That risk is eliminated if he pleads guilty."

Staff writer Elisabeth Arriero and staff researcher Maria David contributed.