JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A man who killed a woman over an argument about money has been convicted of first-degree murder.

Alexander Chester Patton, 40, was also convicted by a jury for the charge of possession of a controlled substance, according to a release from the State Attorney's Office. Patton will be sentenced Sept. 10 and he faces life in prison.

Patton went to the home of Paula Milam, 61, in August 2011. After arguing with her about how much money he owed her, Patton strangled Milam with a weed eater line and two electrical cords.

He then took a bottle of her prescription medication, left her house and headed down Interstate 95, where he was found after getting into an crash.

"This was a senseless and brutal tragedy which took the life of a vulnerable woman. This Defendant tried to claim drug addiction as an excuse for murder. We are gratified that the jury with their verdict reaffirmed the notion of personal responsibility for criminal acts such as this," said Assistant State Attorney Rich Mantei in the release.

First Coast News