Man gets life for murder of teen returning Redbox movie

A Texas man was sentenced to life in prison for killing a young woman he kidnapped while she was returning a Redbox movie. Antonio Cochran, 36, was sentenced Monday for the 2015 murder of 18-year-old Zoe Hastings, who was abducted from a Walgreens parking lot in Lake Highlands, according to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. Hastings stopped at the pharmacy to return a movie when Cochran got into her minivan and kidnapped her, prosecutors said. Cochran allegedly sexually assaulted the young woman before stabbing her to death. Hastings was found dead with her throat slashed the next morning near a local creek bed, according to officials. Cochran’s DNA was reportedly found on the murder .

A Texas man was sentenced to life in prison for killing a young woman he kidnapped while she was returning a Redbox movie.

Antonio Cochran, 36, was sentenced Monday for the 2015 murder of 18-year-old Zoe Hastings, who was abducted from a Walgreens parking lot in Lake Highlands, according to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office.

Hastings stopped at the pharmacy to return a movie when Cochran got into her minivan and kidnapped her, prosecutors said.

Cochran allegedly sexually assaulted the young woman before stabbing her to death.

Hastings was found dead with her throat slashed the next morning near a local creek bed, according to officials.

Cochran’s DNA was reportedly found on the murder weapon — a bloody knife — recovered at the scene.

“There are no words that can express our sorrow to the Hastings family for having to endure such a traumatic and tragic loss. We will continue to pray for them and while we cannot bring Zoe back, we hope this outcome will help them heal,” Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson said in a statement. “On behalf of my team who worked on this case, I want to thank the jury for their service. Their sentence ensures that Antonio Cochran will no longer have the opportunity to harm another person again.”

Cochran was convicted Saturday of murder by a jury of eight women and four men.

The jury also fined Cochran $10,000 in addition to his life sentence, according to prosecutors.