Crime | Sandra Cantu 8-Year-Old's Killer Gets Life Melissa Huckaby denies sexually abusing Sandra Cantu By Newser Editors and Wire Services Suggested by Disillusioned Posted Jun 14, 2010 1:59 PM CDT Copied In this April 14, 2009 photo, Melissa Huckaby, 28, is shown in a Stockton, Calif., courtroom during her arraignment. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, Pool) A California Sunday school teacher who pleaded guilty to kidnapping and murdering an 8-year-old neighbor made a tearful apology to the victim's family today as she was sentenced to life in prison. "She did not suffer, and I did not sexually molest her," said Melissa Huckaby, who avoided the death penalty with the plea. "I'm asking you, Maria, for your forgiveness. I can't imagine forgiving someone who harmed my daughter. I hope someday you can forgive me." Huckaby entered her surprise plea last month to first-degree murder with a special circumstance of kidnapping in the death of Sandra Cantu, whose body was found in a suitcase pulled from an irrigation pond. All other charges, including allegations that Huckaby sexually abused the girl, were dropped. Read These Next Something weird is happening in the Gulf of Panama. Amazon Prime members, you may not be happy with this news. Jet lag apparently played a role in this CEO's downfall. A woman reveals the shocking text she got while her mom was away. Report an error