Family members of Leviticus and Toshiba Dupree said they considered the couple's killer, Mark Anthony Williams, a part of the family, but they still pleaded with the judge for justice.
Williams, who pleaded guilty but mentally ill to two counts of murder in perpetration of a robbery in September, made no statement when he had the opportunity Thursday.
After a lengthy sentencing hearing, Lake Superior Court Judge Diane Ross Boswell sentenced him to 110 years, His attorney, Arlington Foley Sr. said he would appeal.
Yushonda Dupree, whose father and stepmother were murdered, said her father was the youngest of 12 children and raised six children of his own, all of whom learned there were consequences for bad behavior and illegal acts.
"I ask for justice and ask the court to hold Mr. Williams fully, fully responsible for his actions," Dupree said.
Williams, 47, admitted in court that he and co-defendant Anthony Wilson on Nov. 1, 2013, were at the Dupree residence in the 2500 block of Delaware Street in Gary with the couple. Williams took a shotgun belonging to Leviticus Dupree, wielded a knife and stabbed both Leviticus, 62, and Toshiba, 54, multiple times.
Deputy prosecutor Maureen Koonce noted that Williams had been paroled after about 16 years in prison for the voluntary manslaughter of Victoria Brown in 1996 when he killed the Duprees. In both cases, Koonce said Williams told police he heard voices that told him
Koonce said the Duprees welcomed Williams into their home and trusted him. "We have two lives violently cut short over a shotgun," Koonce said.
Foley presented testimony from Dr. George Parker, a forensic psychiatrist who met with Williams in November 2014 and May 2015, and reviewed his school, Lake County Jail and mental health records. Parker said Williams has schizophrenia, borderline intellectual functioning and addictions to alcohol and cocaine.
Boswell imposed a 55-year sentence on each count, the maximum outlined in the plea agreement, which will be served consecutively to Williams' parole violation.
Meanwhile, co-defendant Anthony Wilson, 49, who pleaded guilty to a charge of assisting a criminal and being an habitual offender in exchange for a 16-year sentence, said he was present when Williams asked Leviticus Dupree for money and he refused, and then admitted he saw Williams pull out a large kitchen knife and kill Dupree.
Wilson also said he saw Williams walk toward a bedroom of the home where Toshiba Dupree was. Wilson said he used the car keys Williams took to drive Williams from the scene in Leviticus Dupree's car and went with Williams so he could change out of his blood-stained clothes. Wilson's sentencing hearing is Jan. 24.
Article Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/crime/ct-ptb-williams-110-years-st-0120-20170119-story.html
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