Edwin Carrero Sentenced to Prison in Girlfriend's Murder

A Pottstown man was sentenced Monday to 23 to 46 years in prison after pleading guilty to third-degree murder and other charges in the death of his girlfriend, Alicia Schmidt.

Edwin Carrero II, 32, was in a relationship with Schmidt. On Feb. 2, 2012, authorities said, Carrero strangled Schmidt during an argument and then hid her body in the basement of her home. 
Schmidt's two children were found sleeping upstairs when authorities arrived to do a well check on Schmidt after a tip from Carrero's ex-wife.

Carrero then stole Schmidt's car and other items and drove to Florida, where he gambled and stayed in hotels. 

Carrero's defense attorney said that the strangling was unintentional, that Carrero did not mean to kill Schmidt. 

President Judge William J. Furber Jr. told Carrero in sentencing him that he acted with "callousness" in hiding Scmiudt's body and then searching for a place to gamble right after the murder, according to a report in the Pottstown Mercury.

Carrero will serve his sentence in state prison.