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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Idaho man sentenced for killing Spokane woman, dumping body near Hauser Lake

Patrick N. McGhee

A North Idaho man was sentenced to at least 15 years in prison Friday after previously pleading guilty to killing a Spokane woman and dumping her body near Hauser Lake in June.

Patrick Neil McGhee, 47, entered an Alford plea on charges of voluntary manslaughter and destruction of evidence. An Alford plea is a guilty plea without an admission of guilt but with acknowledgment that there is enough evidence for a conviction.

His 25-year sentence includes a 15-year fixed term in prison and 10 years of indeterminate sentencing.

The body of Kelly Lynne Sallee, 55, was found naked and bound, partially submerged in a slough near Hauser Lake. McGhee told investigators that he had picked up Sallee on East Sprague in Spokane and was going to pay her for sex. He reportedly admitted cleaning her body with bleach before dumping her. An autopsy showed that Sallee was strangled and beaten.

Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh said he was pleased by the outcome.

“I thought the judge did a good job sorting through the evidence and evaluating the seriousness of the crime,” he said.