GUILTY IL - Mildred 'Dodie' Darrington, 85, stabbed to death, East Dundee, 18 July 2014

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Man gets 45 years for 2014 slaying of East Dundee grandmother

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170323/news/170329393/

A Texas man who was convicted of driving cross-country in July 2014 to murder his grandmother in her East Dundee home for a share of her inheritance was sentenced to 45 years in prison Thursday.

"Your family is now terrified of you," Kane County Judge Linda Abrahamson told Richard Schmelzer, 44, of Frisco, a Dallas suburb. "You took no responsibility for the death and murder of your grandmother."

"I'm innocent. I didn't do this. My grandmother was my best friend. I loved her with all my heart," Schmelzer said. "(Prosecutors) spent more time showing I cheated on my wife."

His mother, Angela Schmelzer, tearfully testified to the horror of learning that her mother didn't die a peaceful death.

"I have lost both my mom and my son and so much more," she said. "My mom loved my son so much she would have done anything for him. How could you do this? How could you just leave her there? There's no victory for me. There's just sadness and grief that I am not sure will ever end."

A letter from Schmelzer's oldest daughter was read in court, describing the impact of her father's absence in their lives and how fond memories have turned into sorrow and hatred toward him.

"We are being evicted from our house in June thanks to my dad spending all our money on his ," she wrote. "I never thought the man who carried me on his shoulders would kill someone."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-east-dundee-schmelzer-sentencing-st-0324-20170323-story.html

Darrington was a caring grandmother and Richard Schmelzer was her favorite grandchild, according to testimony. She was the kind of grandmother who always asked if anyone was hungry and would tell her grandchildren everything would be OK, her family testified. She collected gift cards from local businesses to give away at parties for seniors, Angela Schmelzer said. Darrington also loved cardinals, which now make her daughter cry, she said.

Richard Schmelzer was a manipulator who "lived his life in an entitled manner," his sister, Kim Schmelzer said when she read her victim impact statement from the stand. His grandmother often got him out of trouble and he had such a big hold over her that he got her to change her will so he could be executor, she said.

Kim Schmelzer asked the judge to sentence him in prison so his family can live without the fear he will be released. He needs to be held accountable after "weaseling" his way out of everything else in his life, she said.

Kane County Assistant State's Attorney Bill Engermann said the murder "was cold. It was calculating. It was evil. It was a murder induced by no one other than his own greed."

He sought a sentence of 50 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Defense attorney Rick Kayne asked for 20 years citing Richard Schmelzer's law abiding life prior to the murder. He said Schmelzer did commit adultery and he apologized for those actions.

Schmelzer must serve 100 percent of the 45-year sentence. Kayne said Schmelzer will file an appeal and requested a hearing to reconsider the sentencing. An April 13 hearing was set.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

45-year prison sentence upheld in murder of East Dundee grandmother

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-east-dundee-schmelzer-sentencing-st-0414-20170413-story.html

Unswayed by Richard Schmelzer's argument to reduce his 45-year prison sentence for killing his grandmother, Judge Linda Abrahamson on Thursday upheld the punishment she issued less than a month ago.

On Thursday, Schmelzer's attorney contended the sentence was excessive and that Abrahamson didn't properly consider mitigating factors, such as Schmelzer's lack of criminal history, presented during the March sentencing hearing, according to the motion, which also claimed Schmelzer's rights were violated by the sentence. Abrahamson rejected the motion and ordered Schmelzer to be taken into custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections for prison placement.