An Akron man who stabbed a woman to death and raped another woman was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday.
Brock Tipping, 32, pleaded guilty to rape and murder in November. He will be eligible for parole after 18 years.
Crystal Palm, 33, was found stabbed to death in her apartment November 15, 2014. Her apartment was on fire, and officials alleged that it was set intentionally.
A month before, a 35-year-old woman had reported that she was taken to an address on Sanford Avenue where she was beaten and raped. When the suspect dropped her off later, she called police and was transported to a local hospital.
Detectives gathered DNA evidence that linked the rape to Tipping.
Tipping was found in Indianapolis and brought back to Akron. During his incarceration, a DNA profile came back indicating that Tipping was involved in Palm's homicide, too.
