Dayton wife killer formally sentenced to life with parole

A Dayton man who shot to death his wife in her parents' driveway last year was formally sentenced Monday in Lyon County to two terms of life in prison with parole after 20 years.

Christopher Deyerle was given credit for about 500 days in jail and must serve at least 20 years in prison on the charge of first-degree murder before being eligible for parole. Once paroled from the first sentence, Deyerle, 25, will begin serving another sentence of 20 years to life on a deadly weapon enhancement.

In September, a Yerington jury found Deyerle guilty of first-degree murder for the May 4, 2006, murder of his estranged wife, Heather Deyerle, 24.

On the day of the killing, Deyerle bought the gun and pawned his wedding ring. He spent about two hours at the home of his in-laws on Boulder Circle prior to the 9 p.m. shooting.

The couple were to discuss divorce when he shot Heather in the head and pelvis as she ran from him. She died three hours later at a Reno hospital.

Following a 15-hour search by law enforcement, Deyerle was spotted by a homeowner limping on River Road, three miles from the scene of the shooting.