Menifee man sentenced to 16 years to life in prison for 2013 murder of 'Shoe Lady'

MENIFEE, Calif. (KABC) -- A Menifee man convicted of second-degree murder was sentenced to 16 years to life in state prison for the murder of a woman famous for her epic shoe collection.

The judge sentenced Justin Smith Friday morning and called the murder one of the most violent cases he had ever seen.

Smith was convicted of second-degree murder for using a baseball bat to kill Darlene Flynn, the so-called "Shoe Lady," in 2013.

Flynn was known for her world-record shoe collection. In a video from a TLC show, Flynn and Smith, her boyfriend at the time, were featured with her collection of 15,000 shoes that she kept in her Menifee home.

Their relationship eventually soured. The day after they had an argument, Smith approached Flynn from behind with a baseball bat and beat her up so badly the bat broke.

"It was obviously a very brutal case, it was a horrendous case. The victim in this case was brutally murdered, beaten to death with a baseball bat and left in a swimming pool," said John Hall with the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.

Flynn's brother submitted an impact statement during the sentencing.

"My sister had a big heart and always was there to help anyone in need, and always with a big smile...unfortunately, her trusting and forgiving nature cost her, her life," the statement said.

In court, Smith's family said that what happened was a tragedy, "but we love our son and are here to support him."

The judge denied Smith's request for probation.