Prison for man who fatally torched NYC woman

Jerome Isaac (left) is led out of the 77th Precinct in Brooklyn, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, following his arrest in the death of 73-year-old Deloris Gillespie, who was set afire in an elevator. Isaac told police he was angry that she owed him $2,000. / AP Photo/Robert Mecea; Family photo via Council Member Letitia James

NEW YORK A handyman who burned a 73-year-old woman to death in a New York City elevator has been sentenced to 50 years to life in prison.

Prosecutors say 48-year-old Jerome Isaac was sentenced Friday for killing Deloris Gillespie inside her Brooklyn apartment building days before Christmas in 2011.

Authorities say Isaac surprised Gillespie when the elevator doors opened, doused her with gasoline and set her on fire before throwing a firebomb in with her. He turned himself in a day later. The attack was captured on a security camera.

• NYC man charged with murder for torching woman
• Brooklyn murder victim's kindness led to her death, family says

Police say Isaac told them he attacked Gillespie because he believed she owed him money.

Isaac pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in November. Prosecutors say he told probation officials conducting a mental health evaluation that he got orders from the devil.

[djseavy]

He "believed" she owed him money, and he got orders from the devil. Sounds like he makes it up as he goes along. He was probably hoping to get off on the sanity defense. It's too bad there isn't an abandoned elevator sitting around; he could have the same treatment he did to that poor lady.