Clark Guilty Of Murder Jury recommends life sentence without parole
Posted
Daniel Riordan-driordan@timesuniononline.com
At around 11:30 a.m. May 25, 2007, Samantha Muchowicz's short life came to a brutal and tragic end.
At 11:30 a.m. Friday, the man responsible for savagely taking the life of the two-year-old girl friends and family called "Sam" was found guilty of murder and learned he will likely die in prison.
A jury of seven women and five men found Ian James Clark, 35, formerly of 375 EMS R4 Lane, Pierceton, and currently of Kosciusko County Jail, guilty of murder.
The jury deliberated less than 90 minutes before reaching its decision.
The verdict was a culmination of a week of graphic testimony, heated exchanges and emotions.
Many of Muchowicz's family, including her mother Matara Teel Muchowicz, wept after the verdict.
Family members and police officers alike shed tears and hugged after Reed dismissed the jury.
Clark remained silent as the jury read its verdict and only spoke to say "Yes, sir" to Reed when the judge asked him if he heard the jury's verdict.
Clark was then escorted by Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department officers to his cell as the court broke for lunch.
In the afternoon, the jury also recommended to Judge Rex Reed in Kosciusko County Circuit Court that Clark be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Clark will be sentenced April 3 at 1:15 p.m.
Clark's attorney, Bryon J. Berry asked the jury to no avail to opt to give Clark a sentence of 45 to 60 years in jail.
If the jury recommended that sentence, Clark could have been out of prison as early as 2030.
Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney R. Steven Hearn noted in his final argument for a life sentence for Clark that if Samantha were still alive she would be 25 when Clark got out.
"Obviously we're all very pleased and feel justice has been served," said Hearn. "This took a lot of hard work by a lot of people."
After the jury gave its recommendation to Reed, Clark was once again escorted out of the courtroom.
Matara and members of her family hugged Hearn along with other members of the prosecution and law enforcement and thanked them.
Then they exited the Kosciusko County Justice Building with a large poster board photo of Samantha that Hearn showed during his closing argument Friday morning.
