Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino announced today that Michael Blower, 32, formerly of Salem, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 18 years in connection with the 2023 murder of Rusty Steele in Lisbon. Blower previously pled guilty to the charge of murder and a gun specification. Last week, Blower’s co-defendant Christopher Mills was sentenced to a term of 13 to 18 years in prison for his role in Steele’s murder.

 

Prosecutors commended the investigative efforts of the Lisbon Police Department in this case.