Laura Furlan's killer, Christopher Dunlop, sentenced to 13 years in prison

Relief,closureand gratitude.

That's what Kathryn Furlan isfeelingfollowing the delivery of a 13 year sentence for her daughter's killer.

Christopher Dunlop strangled Laura Furlan and dumped her body in Fish Creek Park in 2009.

Today, her mother expressed her thanks to the police and prosecutors who were involved in Furlan's case.

"Laura is now in a safe place and her killer is going to prison; for me that's closure," said KathrynFurlan.

With thecredit for the time he's already spent behind bars, Christopher Dunlop has already served half of hissentence.

Dunlop pleaded guilty to manslaughter and indignity to a body in October.

The prosecution sought a sentence of 14 to 16 years, while Dunlop'slawyer proposed 12years.

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"I think he's glad that it's over, it's been a long process," said Dunlop's lawyer, Kim Ross.

Dunlop admitted to picking Furlan up on Aug. 25, 2009, with the agreement he would pay her $100 in exchange for sex.

The 38-year-old had struggled with addictions but was overcoming thosewith "courage and a will to survive,"according to her mother.

Missing for two weeks, Furlan'sbody was eventuallyfound in Fish Creek Park.

After a lengthy undercover investigation, Dunlop confessed to strangling Furlan while he was having sex with her in his truck.

He was arrested three years after herdeath.

"It's a long road though I can't imagine what it must feel like for the family," said prosecutor Hyatt Mograbee.

"At the end of the day, these cases are never easy to deal with."

A forensic analysis of Dunlop's online history from the day she died foundsearches for "fingerprints on a dead body," "rates of decomposition," "methods for disposing a body using fire" and "DNA test for semen."

"I know that you regret your actions," saidJusticeKristineEidsvik in delivering the sentence. "I hope you can return to be a productive member of our society."

The judge also wished Furlan's family "peace" moving forward. That's something Kathryn Furlan finds through her grandson.

"She raised a beautiful son, a great gift to me."