John E. du Pont's "mental illness can never again be ignored," a judge said before sentencing him to 13 to 30 years in state custody for fatally shooting an Olympic wrestler.

The state now must decide whether the 58-year-old chemical-fortune heir will serve the sentence in a mental hospital or in a prison.Du Pont was convicted of shooting to death 36-year-old David Schultz as the 1984 Olympic gold medalist tinkered with his car at du Pont's sprawling Foxcatcher estate and wrestling center.

For two days after the shooting, du Pont locked himself inside his mansion and spoke with police by telephone. He was captured when he walked outside to fix his heater.

Jurors found du Pont guilty of third-degree murder in the Jan. 25, 1996, shooting but also deemed him mentally ill.

Defense lawyers said du Pont, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, was delusional when he shot the world-class wrestler. Prosecutors contended du Pont was jealous of him.

Du Pont, who already has served 18 months in prison and in a state hospital, will be 70 before he is eligible for parole.

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The wrestler's wife, Nancy, told the court she feared for her two young children, Alexander, 11, and Danielle, 8.

"I'd like to be able to put my kids to bed at night and tell them they don't have to worry about where John is," she said.

Du Pont earlier offered a brief apology - his first public statement since he was arrested.

"I've fully concluded that on January 26, 1996, I was ill. I wish to apologize to Nancy Schultz and her children. I'm very sorry for what happened," he said, speaking clearly but dispassionately.

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