Man gets prison for West Mich. woman's fire death

A 62-year-old man has been sentenced to 30-100 years in prison in the death of a woman whose body was found in the remains of a burned-out West Michigan house.

AP Wire

Grand rapids

Nov 30, 2012

Michael Piranian pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder and assault with intent to do great bodily harm. He was sentenced Thursday in Kent County Circuit Court.

Piranian was charged in the March death of 24-year-old Kori VanHulle. Firefighters found her body in the basement of the house in Sparta Township, 15 miles northwest of Grand Rapids.

Authorities said Piranian set fire to boxes under a stairwell, and VanHulle couldn't escape. Police said Piranian beat another resident with a pipe.

Piranian lived in the house as a renter, and VanHulle was a co-tenant.