COLUMBIANA – The man convicted of a December 2016 murder in the Highland Lakes neighborhood was sentenced to life in prison.

Adam Michael Burrus, 39, of Birmingham was sentenced on June 27 to life in the Alabama Department of Corrections by Circuit Judge William H. Bostick III.

Burrus was found guilty at the conclusion of a jury trial on May 14 of the murder of 37-year-old Constance Leigh Woolweaver at her Highland Lakes home.

The two had been described by police as friends and business partners.

Among the evidence presented at the trial was the alleged murder weapon, which was recovered from Burrus’ residence, and records indicating Burrus’ mobile phone had connected with the victim’s wireless network the day of the shooting.

He was arrested the day after the killing and pleaded not guilty in November 2017.

Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego previously said investigators developed Burrus as a person of interest on the morning after the shooting, and contacted him at his business in Sterrett.

Burrus willingly met with investigators, who determined probable cause and procured search warrants for his home, business and vehicle.

After the searches were completed, Burrus was charged with murder and booked into the Shelby County Jail.

There was no evidence of forced entry at the victim’s residence, Samaniego said, and the victim was found near the entryway.

In addition to life in prison, Burrus was ordered to pay all court costs, all medical expenses incurred in jail, a $30 jail housing fee, a $10,000 Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund assessment, a fine of $300,000 and restitution to the estate of Woolweaver in the amount of $120,000.