Man gets life sentence for scaring woman to death

Multiple media outlets reported that Larry Whitfield, 22, of Charlotte, was sentenced in federal court Wednesday. Whitfield had been convicted of attempted bank robbery, various weapons charges and trying to avoid arrest for attempted bank robbery.

Court records show that a jury found that Whitfield did not intentionally kill Mary Parnell, 79, but his conduct resulted in her death.

Prosecutors said that Whitfield and a co-defendant tried to rob a credit union in Gastonia in September 2009. They said that Whitfield forced his way into Parnell's home to hide from police.

Police said Whitfield made Parnell sit in a chair and soon left the house. An autopsy showed she died from a heart attack that police say was the result of Whitfield's presence.