A man who clubbed his wife to death, concocted an elaborate cover-up and tried to kill his daughter was sentenced to 44 years in prison today in Denver District Court.

Frank Schilt, 54, faced a maximum of 48 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in May. He had been charged with first-degree murder of his wife, Teresa Schilt, 51, whose body was put in a dumpster.

He also was charged with attempted murder of his 15-year-old daughter, Melody, by carbon monoxide poisoning.

After the slaying in late February 2006, Schilt wrapped his wife's body in comforters and garbage bags, then drove around with the body in the trunk of the family car for a week before dumping it in a trash container near Lakeside Amusement Park.

He gave a number of excuses for his wife's disappearance, telling family members that she was in Cleveland visiting a sick relative, that she was in the hospital in Chicago or that she was attending a convention in Texas.

Teresa Schilt's body was never recovered despite an exhaustive 87-day search of landfills by police, firefighters and volunteers.

"We're happy that he will hopefully die in prison," said prosecutor Kerri Lombardi after the sentencing hearing. "That is what he deserves."