An Arizona man was sentenced to 40 years in prison in connection with the murder of a Black woman he strangled while the two were the lone passengers on a Phoenix bus in 2022.
Joshua C. Bagley, 30, was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Friday as part of a plea bargain agreement with Maricopa County prosecutors, KPHO/KTVK reported. Bagley pleaded guilty in October to one count of second-degree murder and one count of kidnapping. Bagley was sentenced on Friday to 25 years for second-degree murder and 15 years for kidnapping, which will run consecutively, per the judge’s ruling.
Diane Craig was strangled and died after she was attacked in the back of a Phoenix bus in May 2022 while the bus was empty. According to authorities, Bagley used the straps of the Craig’s purse to strangle her.
The victim’s family said they were not happy with the plea deal Bagley received.
Ben Taylor, an attorney speaking on behalf of the victim’s family told KPHO/KTVK he didn’t understand why a plea deal was offered when there was video evidence of the attack and believes the case should have been tried in court.
The victim’s family has filed a lawsuit against the bus driver and the transportation company, claiming the driver ignored Craig’s cries for help and didn’t call 9-1-1 immediately.
More on the sentencing and Bagley’s criminal history .
