Man given 2 life sentences for 2011 Willingham murders
Jose Huckleberry was ordered to serve two life sentences today for stabbing a local couple to death during a botched robbery in 2011.
Five years ago this week, Don and Helen Willingham, both 79, were killed in their home just southwest of Springfield.
Sheriff Jim Arnott said at the time that it was one of the worst cases he had seen as sheriff, calling it a "violent, random encounter."
The slain couple's daughter, Donna Fedor, said she was very satisfied with the sentencing.
"It doesn't bring them back, but I feel it's a just sentence," she said.
Greene County Prosecutor Dan Patterson said Huckleberry, 28, will get credit for time he has already spent in jail and will be eligible for parole in roughly 50 years.
In a 2012 interview with detectives, Huckleberry initially denied involvement in the murders, then changed course and said he did in fact kill the couple. Later, he would say he killed Don Willingham and an associate killed Helen Willingham.
Huckleberry's attorney had argued in January that Huckleberry was in bed in north Springfield at the time of the killings and had nothing to do with the deaths. The attorney argued again Friday that there was no evidence of Huckleberry being present at the scene other than the 2012 interview.
Huckleberry spoke little during the trial, mostly in response to questions from Judge David Jones.
"I'm innocent — that's the only thing I can say," Huckleberry said.
When asked by the judge, Huckleberry said that he was interested in the services of a public defender to appeal the case.
Three family members of the Willinghams spoke to the judge before he handed down his sentence.
Don Willingham's brother Jay said he and his siblings had struggled with "feelings of revenge, feelings of vengeance" since the murders. He said the sentencing could provide closure.
"We struggled with how this could happen," Jay said.
A niece of the family struggled at times to speak. She said even though five years have passed, the pain of losing her aunt and uncle has not abated.
"Our lives were forever changed ... You don't realize how much so until you live it," she said. "People say that time heals all wounds ... That's a lie."
Fedor, the daughter, lovingly described her parents to the judge.
"The 'Hallelujahs' could roll off their tongues," she said. "They loved to praise the Lord."
Fedor said she hoped Huckleberry realizes that God has a plan for him.
She said neither her parents nor her family are victims, and she stressed that again outside the courtroom.
"I don't feel like we're victims," she said. "As Christians we live in victory ... God does have a plan."
Huckleberry was found guilty in a January trial, during which time prosecutors played a recording of the 911 call Helen Willingham made during the attack.
Helen Willingham can be heard saying a young man got into her home and killed her husband.
She said, "He’s in here now."
And then the phone disconnects.
During the January trial, a pastor testified that Huckleberry had been baptized three days before the Willinghams were stabbed to death.
Before the sentencing took place, Huckleberry's lawyer said he wanted the verdict set aside and a new trial to be held. Dewayne Perry said nine statements made by an individual who claimed to have knowledge of the case were not included in the trial
The statements made by that person, identified only as "S.H.," could have proved exculpatory for his client, Perry said.
The jury was allowed to hear Huckleberry's confession and weigh it, Perry argued, so a jury should also get to hear statements made by this other individual who at one point said he or she had been involved in the killings.
Perry said after Huckleberry was found guilty in January, a case similar to Huckleberry's had been decided and it could have a bearing on the case. Patterson, the prosecutor, disagreed.
Patterson also said there was no evidence placing S.H. at the scene and that at times the individual contradicted evidence at the scene.
Jones, the judge, said he concluded that the statements made by S.H. were not credible, calling them "all over the board."
He denied the motion for a new trial and moved on to the sentencing.
During the sentencing, Perry asked the judge for mercy. He said Huckleberry had never known his father, had not been in contact with his mother for years and had been abused by his stepfather.
Perry said Huckleberry had a history of drug abuse, never graduated high school and was homeless at times.
"These are not excuses. These are telling the whole story," Perry said.