Woody, DeHart Sentenced In Double Murder

October 26, 2016 at 5:28 p.m.

By Michael [email protected]

Kosciusko County Circuit Judge Michael Reed on Wednesday morning sentenced Brandon Woody to 120 years and Kyle Dehart to 110  for shooting a Syracuse couple over an ounce of marijuana.
Both men were convicted of two counts of murder in the shooting deaths of Tara Thornburg, 23 and Joshua Knisley, 19, in Syracuse in February 2015.
Reed sentenced Woody to two consecutive terms of 60 years in prison for each murder. Dehart was given to two consecutive 55-year sentences.
A third suspect is still awaiting trial.
Reed said it would demean the lives that were lost, if he didn't order a consecutive sentence rather than ordering the terms be served concurrently.
Knisley's mother, Rhonda Bickel, took the stand prior to the sentencing and said she's suffered every day since her son was killed.
"You shot my son execution style in the back of the head, What kind of animal does that?" she asked.
Dehart said nothing in his defense.
Woody, meanwhile, sat emotionless through the sentencing and when given the chance to speak, said, "No matter what anyone says, I'm innocent, I didn't do this crime."
Kosciusko County Prosecutor Dan Hampton said Woody and Dehart will need to serve 75 percent of their sentences before being eligible for parole.
"They will never get out of prison, " he said.

Look for an expanded story in Thursday's edition of the Times-Union and online.

Kosciusko County Circuit Judge Michael Reed on Wednesday morning sentenced Brandon Woody to 120 years and Kyle Dehart to 110  for shooting a Syracuse couple over an ounce of marijuana.
Both men were convicted of two counts of murder in the shooting deaths of Tara Thornburg, 23 and Joshua Knisley, 19, in Syracuse in February 2015.
Reed sentenced Woody to two consecutive terms of 60 years in prison for each murder. Dehart was given to two consecutive 55-year sentences.
A third suspect is still awaiting trial.
Reed said it would demean the lives that were lost, if he didn't order a consecutive sentence rather than ordering the terms be served concurrently.
Knisley's mother, Rhonda Bickel, took the stand prior to the sentencing and said she's suffered every day since her son was killed.
"You shot my son execution style in the back of the head, What kind of animal does that?" she asked.
Dehart said nothing in his defense.
Woody, meanwhile, sat emotionless through the sentencing and when given the chance to speak, said, "No matter what anyone says, I'm innocent, I didn't do this crime."
Kosciusko County Prosecutor Dan Hampton said Woody and Dehart will need to serve 75 percent of their sentences before being eligible for parole.
"They will never get out of prison, " he said.

Look for an expanded story in Thursday's edition of the Times-Union and online.

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