Shao Tong (Photo/Cztv.com)

Li Xiangnan (Photo/Cztv.com)

The former University of Iowa student who killed his girlfriend Shao Tong will spend the rest of his life in a Chinese prison.

Li Xiangnan was sentenced on June 22 by Wenzhou Intermediate People's Court to life in prison in the Chinese city of Wengzhou.

Li admitted to killing the 20-year-old Iowa State student Tong Shao in September 2014 before fleeing to China. Li turned himself over to Chinese authorities in May 2015 and was charged with Shao's murder in June.

Shao's body was found in the trunk of her car three weeks after her death. The car was parked outside of Li's apartment in Iowa City.

According to Li, after he found Shao was cheating on him, he and Shao had a fight. Shao proposed to be with the other man from Monday to Friday, and spend time with Li on weekends. Li got furious and swore at her. Shao used a pillow to shut him up and Li strangled her neck. After he cooled down, Shao was already dead.

Li first bought a suitcase and two dumbbells and later he put the body into the truck of his Camry and plan to drop the body into the river. Then he changed his plans by calling Shao's roommate, telling her that Shao would be away for a week to visit a friend in Minnesota. On Sept. 8, 2014, Li took a flight back to China.

"Li deliberately killed his girlfriend out of affective problems in the relationship. The facts were ascertained and evidence sufficient and the defendant shall be prosecuted for intentional homicide," the procuratorate said in a statement. 

Li Xiangnan at court. (Photo/Cztv.com)