A man found guilty of killing his girlfriend in 1987 is appealing his conviction.

Michael Harris was found guilty last year of killing Jill Howard, more than 20 years after her body was found in a Steubenville alley. He was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

Harris, who was Howard's boyfriend, was arrested 10 days after the killing, but prosecutors at that time felt there was not enough evidence to go to trial. Decades later, prosecutors linked Harris to the killing with new DNA and physical evidence.

Howard was 18 at the time of her murder and the mother of a 3-month-old baby girl. She was stabbed 61 times.

Harris appealed his conviction in Youngstown before a three-judge panel. Officials in the appeals court office said each side was given 15 minutes to argue their case. A written decision on the appeal will be submitted to the Jefferson County clerk at a later date.

Harris' attorney, Dennis McNamara, is the same lawyer representing Police Chief Barry Carpenter in Belmont County. Carpenter is charged in connection with an alleged conspiracy regarding a celebrity couple's surrogate.