EASTON, Pa.—A Pennsylvania man will spend life in prison for killing his housemate 12 years ago and burying his body and fabricating a letter from his victim to explain his disappearance.

A Northampton County jury needed just two hours Thursday to decide Robert Schmidt killed 26-year-old Robert Sarko in July 2000.

Sarko's body wasn't found until four years after he disappeared and it was 2010 before his remains were conclusively identified. During that time authorities say Schmidt cashed Sarko's disability checks and siphoned funds from his bank accounts.

Schmidt's attorney says his client is a thief and liar but no murderer. He says he will appeal the verdict.

One witness told the court Schmidt bragged about the killing and said authorities wouldn't find the body "for a million years."