Eric Mendoza was sentenced to life in prison Friday for the intentional homicide of 5-year-old Prince McCree, a case that took more than two years to conclude due to legal delays.The sentencing came after Mendoza pleaded guilty in February as part of a plea deal. Because of that plea, there was no trial, meaning many details of the case emerged publicly for the first time during Friday's proceedings.WATCH: Eric Mendoza sentenced to life in prison for killing Prince McCree Eric Mendoza sentenced to life in prison for killing Prince McCreeMendoza was 15 years old when he and David Patura strangled and beat McCree before leaving him in a dumpster. The life sentence includes the eligibility to petition for extended supervision after 50 years. The judge cited Mendoza's age at the time of the crime and a long list of mental health issues he has faced throughout his life as reasoning for including that provision.The proceedings were deeply emotional. Several family members had to step out of the courtroom, including McCree's parents.McCree's father, Darron McCree, was asked to speak from behind the divide separating the public from the court proceedings."I wish this guy would die and burn, no mercy, and I wish I could do it with my hands, and I pray that you release him, so I can do what. When he killed my baby, he killed me. I'm a different person now. My life is my kid's life. He already took one. I can do him," Darron McCree said.Prince McCree's death led to the passage of the Prince Act, which loosens requirements for missing child notifications. An Amber Alert was never issued for Prince because no suspect description was available. Under the law, an alert can now be sent for any child under the age of 10 who has been reported missing. The same applies to children under the age of 18 who have disabilities.This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.Its about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for TMJ4 on your device.Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip ...read more read less