Susan Madison told Judge Jeffrey Kritzer of the pain her family has endured since her son, David Madison, 39, was killed by Michael McIntosh on Halloween weekend in 2015.

“There are no adequate words to describe our pain, anger and despair,” she said.

McIntosh, 39, was sentenced in Mower County District Court Wednesday to serve 15 years in prison for Madison’s murder.

According to court records, Madison died of blunt force trauma and strangulation. His body was found Nov. 1, 2015, in the Cedar River at its intersection with Orchard Creek south of Austin near Highway 105.

On Wednesday, Susan said her son “did not deserve to die so cruelly.” She described her son as a young man with a big heart who loved his children, had a passion for collecting rocks and loved football.

“Most of all, he loved life,” she said.

But she said David’s murder has taken his children’s innocence, and it’s caused the family to lose faith in people.

Appearing in court clean-shaven and in an orange jail uniform, McIntosh declined to speak.

Emotions ran high in the more than 40 people in the courtroom, with many tearing up.

“I am sorry for your loss,” Kritzer told the family just before sentencing.

The 15-year sentence for felony third-degree murder was agreed to as part of a plea agreement in December and meets the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines’ recommended sentence based on McIntosh’s criminal history.

For the murder, McIntosh received credit for 474 days served, and he will be eligible for supervised release after 10 years.

McIntosh was also sentenced to a year and a day in prison for a separate felony, for storing methamphetamine paraphernalia in the presence of a child. In that case, he received credit for 501 days served, though the sentence will be served concurrently with the murder charge.

According to court records, McIntosh admitted to killing Madison in late October 2015. Madison’s body was found in the Cedar River after last being seen alive on Oct. 31, 2015.

He had told several people he believed that McIntosh would harm him after McIntosh was released from jail on Oct. 29, 2015, because Madison was having a relationship with McIntosh’s girlfriend.

Investigators later uncovered evidence in his car and home that linked McIntosh to the murder, including cleaning agents and garbage bags, as well as blunt objects, such as a pipe wrench, hammer handle, a club and expandable baton. Blood stains were also found as well as a hat caked in mud similar to the mud on the river bank where Madison’s body was found.