The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Wednesday refused to hear an appeal in the murder conviction of Colton Pitonyak.

The 24-year-old University of Texas dropout was found guilty last year of killing 21-year-old Jennifer Cave in 2005.

Pitonyak will remain behind bars and serve out the rest of his 55-year sentence.

He is eligible for parole after serving half of that.

His accomplice, Laura Hall, was also convicted and sentenced for tampering with evidence and hindering apprehension.