The Chicago Tribune reports that a former landlord has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders of seven residents from Cicero, ages ranging from 20 years old down to just three days old. The tragic incident occurred in 2010 when the man, Lawrence Myers, intentionally set fire to an apartment building he owned.
Cook County Judge Carol Kipperman expressed her deep outrage during the sentencing, stating she would have preferred the death penalty if Illinois law still permitted it. “Everything about this trial was horrifying,†she said in Maywood. “His motive was purely financial. This case left me speechless.â€
Myers, 64, was found guilty by a jury in November and showed no emotional reaction when the sentence was announced. The fire broke out on Valentine’s Day 2010, and prosecutors claim Myers wanted to destroy the property in the 3000 block of South 48th Court to collect $250,000 in insurance money and relocate to West Virginia. Facing significant debt, he allegedly hired his maintenance worker, Marion “Andre†Comier, 51, to start the fire. Comier is currently awaiting trial on murder charges.
The fire, which began with gasoline on a back porch, spread rapidly through the four-flat building, trapping its occupants. Seven people died, including Byron Reed, 20, Sallie Gist, 19, their sons Rashon Reed, 3, and Brian Reed, just three days old; Sallie's twin siblings, Elijah and Elisha Gist, both 16; and Tiera Davidson, 18, a family friend.
Prosecutors stated that the victims were asleep on the second floor when the fire spread up the only staircase. They succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning from smoke inhalation. Two days after the fire, three individuals reported hearing Myers and Comier discussing plans to burn the building, according to authorities.
The jury reached a verdict in just 90 minutes, convicting Myers of seven counts of murder—one for each victim.
Thanks, Dan.
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