CANDO (AP) - A man has been convicted of killing his girlfriend, whose body was found burning in a ditch in 2004.

Jurors in Cando deliberated about 3½ hours Tuesday before convicting Steven Torkelsen of murder in the death of Rebecca Flaa, 48, whose body was discovered by a Towner County farmer in a ditch in June 2004.

Prosecutors said Flaa's blood was on Torkelsen's boots. His parents said their son was home at the time the body was found.

Torkelsen pleaded guilty to the charge two years ago, just before his trial was to start, on the condition that he could challenge the initial stop and search of his vehicle. The state Supreme Court threw out the guilty plea last year, saying authorities did not have a reason to stop Torkelsen and search his truck and camper after the woman's body was found.

Judge Lee Christofferson set Torkelsen's sentencing for next Wednesday morning. Prosecutors said they will seek a life sentence without parole.

Authorities said earlier that Flaa had no permanent address but had been living in the area at various times over several years and that she was visiting Torkelsen at the time of her death. They said she apparently died of extensive head injuries before her body was set on fire.

Torkelsen had lived in Cando and Rugby, officials said.