(Undated) - We counted down to number two on Wednesday.

Andrew Conley being led out of the Ohio County Courthouse. file photo

Today, we reveal the biggest local news story of 2010. Perhaps not surprising to many who have listened to our newscasts and read our online stories over the past 364 days, it was the sentencing of Andrew Conley.

The 18-year-old pleaded guilty in October to murdering his 10-year-old brother Conner in their Hartford Pike Road home in November 2009.

Largely because Conley told investigators that Showtime television series Dexter inspired him, the story made national headlines. The murder tale appeared on CNN, the Drudge Report, and will be the focus of an upcoming feature on 20/20. Reporters from Cincinnati, Louisville, and Indianapolis flocked to the sleepy city of Rising Sun.

After Conley pleaded guilty the day jury selection was to begin, Ohio Circuit Court Judge James D. Humphrey later sent the teen to prison for life without the possibility of parole.  Conley, who faced a minimum of 45 years, is currently appealing the sentence.

"I would like to apologize to Mom and Dad for all this. I would like to apologize to the community of Ohio County for all this happening,” Conley read from statement he had written during his sentencing hearing. “I still have no idea why this happened but I really wish I did. I go to sleep every night and wake up every morning and wish I could change what happened.”

Conner Conley

Conley went on to say he will earn a degree in prison, and if he ever gets out he would like to go back to working at the Rising Sun restaurant where he had been employed.

Despite Conley’s words, Humphrey said he showed no true remorse for the murder.

Conley read a letter saying he will earn a degree in prison and if he ever gets out he would like to work at a Rising Sun restaurant.

The murder of Conner Conley was also Eagle 99.3’s top news story of 2009.

LINKS:

Judge Hands Down Life Sentence For Conley

Conley Pleads Guilty to Murder