US: Facebook murderer Kyle Dube sentenced to 60 years in prison

22-year-old Kyle Dube has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for the murder of Nichole Cable.

Dube, of Orono, Maine, was convicted of murdering the 15-year-old high school student in May 2013 after luring her to her death with a fake Facebook profile.

Using the identity of his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend to make contact with Nichole he arranged a meeting with her. The schoolgirl left her mother's home to meet someone and never returned.

According to prosecutors, Dube planned to abduct the teenager, concealing his appearance with a ski mask and then intended to stage her rescue in order to look like a hero. But he strangled her. His former girlfriend testified that he had confessed to murdering the girl.

Nichole was reported missing and after an eight-day search she was found dead as a result of asphyxiation, buried under leaves and sticks in the woods. The fake Facebook profile was traced back to Dube's home and DNA evidence also linked him to the crime.

On 8 April, a judge imposed 30 years for murder and 30 years for kidnapping, to be served concurrently.

Passing sentence, Superior Court Justice Ann Murray said: "This was an unprovoked, senseless killing."

Prosecutors said the case was a warning to those using social media.