ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. (STMW) — A northwest suburban man was sentenced to 45 years in prison Friday for fatally stabbing his wife in front of their 9-year-old daughter on Valentine’s Day last year.

Heriberto Ramirez, 50, was convicted of first-degree murder in November. On Friday, Judge Kay Hanlon sentenced him to 45 years, according to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office.

A young girl called police about 5:30 a.m. on Feb. 14, 2011, and said her father was “hitting” her mother, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s office.

Deputies found Alicia Ramirez, 45, dead in the bathroom of the family home in the 400 block of West Touhy Avenue in unincorporated Des Plaines, police said. An autopsy determined she died from multiple stab wounds and ruled her death a homicide, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

The Ramirez’ daughter was taken into protective custody, police said.

Deputies had responded to two reports of verbal altercations at the home in the past few years, the sheriff’s office said.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)