Claude McCollum, the man found guilty of brutally raping and murdering Lansing Community College Professor Carolyn Kronenberg in January 2005, will spend the rest of his life in prison.

"We're very hurt, very upset. We're in disbelief right now because we know Claude is innocent," says cousin Ashia McCollum. Family members maintain McCollum was wronged because investigators do not have any physical evidence linking him to the crime scene.

Prosecutors argue fibers from his clothes were found on Kronenberg's clothes during the murder investigation.

Kronenberg's longtime partner Doug Albert says the life sentence is not enough. "He took something from all of us we'll never be able to replace," Albert said after the sentencing Wednesday morning.

McCollum's cousin says he will appeal the decision.