LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Roger Burdette, the former MSD truck driver found guilty of wanton murder in the death of LMPD Detective Deidre Mengedoht, has been sentenced to 27 years in prison.

The sentence by Jefferson Circuit Court Judge McKay Chauvin closely follows the jury's recommendation after Burdette's conviction of wanton murder and wanton endangerment in November.

Burdette crashed his work truck into Detective Deidre Mendedoht's cruiser on I-64 in 2018, sending her car up in flames and killing her. The jury found him guilty of all charges against him.

Burdette's attorneys appealed his conviction but were unsuccessful.

The guilty verdict was handed down after jurors heard testimony that Burdette was under the influence of prescription medicine and viewing pornography on his phone while operating the MSD semi-truck when he struck Mengedoht's cruiser.