TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) - Samuel Williams has been sentenced for the aggravated murders of Johnny Clarke and Lisa Straub in Springfield Township back in 2011.
Williams will serve two consecutive life terms in prison without parole, plus another concurrent 33 years. He was ordered to serve life without parole in prison for each of the two counts of aggravated murder. Additionally, Williams will serve 11 years for each of the two counts of kidnapping and one count of aggravated burglary.
Judge Dean Mandros says he delivered the sentence to punish Williams and protect the community. Overall, the families of Straub and Clarke say it was a sentence that makes them happy.
Clarke's mother and Straub's sister made emotional statements in the courtroom.
"I will never ever forgive Samuel Williams or forget what he did to Johnny, how he destroyed my son, his girlfriend, our families and our life," said Maytee Vazquez-Clarke, Johnny Clarke's mother.
Mandros called the murders "barbaric."
"It's said that to be forgotten is a fate worse than death, and I hope at some point, the family members of these two young people will be able to remember Lisa and Johnny, and yet never remember you," said Mandros.
Williams had nothing to say when he left the courtroom, but the victims' families did.
"We got him. He'll never see daylight again on the streets. He'll never be able to murder and torture another kid, another innocent child," said Vazquez-Clarke.
The jury found Williams guilty on two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of aggravated burglary July 30, but was dismissed after they told the judge they could not reach a unanimous decision on a sentencing.
It was a capital murder case, but since the jury could not agree on a verdict, Mandros made the decision. By law, only a jury can impose the death penalty. Mandros' options therefore were life in prison without parole, life in prison without parole for 30 years and life in prison without parole for 25 years.
Defense Attorney Jerome Phillips said he is not surprised the jury could not come to an agreement because this is one of the first cases he has seen where the prosecution has asked for the death penalty without having overwhelming evidence that the defendant is guilty.
Co-defendant Cameo Pettaway was acquitted July 26 of similar charges in another courtroom, after Judge James Bates cited a lack of sufficient evidence.
- No death penalty for Clarke-Straub killer, judge to decide sentence
- Samuel Williams found guilty of Clarke-Straub murders
- Cameo Pettaway's family reacts to first day of freedom
- Victim's mother calls Pettaway acquittal ‘a catastrophe'
- Pettaway acquitted, Williams jury recessed in Springfield Twp. murder trials
- Clarke-Straub murder trials continue Wednesday
- Friends, forensic expert testify in Clarke-Straub murder trials
- Evidence presented in Clarke-Straub murder trials
- Trial begins for second suspect in Clarke-Straub murders
- Opening statements begin in Springfield Twp. double murder case
- Death penalty specification dropped in murder suspect's trial
- Blade: Expert questions mental capacity of Springfield Twp. murder suspect
- Suspect in Clarke-Straub murders back in court
- Blade: Springfield Twp. murder suspect requests new judge
- Attorneys in Springfield Twp. murder case fight death penalty
- Williams indicted in Springfield Twp double murder
