Pantazes Update: Hit Woman Gets "Life"
WWWoLadyA
Jan 16, 2001
The woman convicted of shooting Clara Pantazes to death will serve a life
sentence for her role in the murder-for-hire scheme orchestrated by Dean "Dino"
Pantazes, Clara's husband.
Jermel Ladonna Chambers, 37, of Washington, will be eligible for parole in 25
years. Pantazes was condemned to two life terms for the slaying that the judge
said exposes "the darkest side of human nature."
Three of Clara Pantazes' sisters, the twin sister of the convicted husband and
the Pantazes' 17-year-old daughter in emotional statements pled with Prince
George's County Circuit Judge James J. Lombardi to issue the maximum sentence -
life plus 20 years for the plea agreement Chambers signed in May.
"You are a disgrace to womankind - you are a disgrace to your race - you are a
disgrace to the human race," Virginia Demoleus Repousis, the victim's older
sister, told Chambers in court Friday. "And now, because of your lies, my niece
and nephew are orphans."
To the judge, Repousis said, "I implore this court not to let this reptile out
of her cage for the rest of her life."
Pantazes was convicted Dec. 7 of seven charges, including premeditated
first-degree murder, felony first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder
and two counts of solicitation to commit murder.
One of the two solicitation counts pertains to Chambers, whom Dino Pantazes
paid $5,000 and promised $6,000 more to kill his wife of more than 20 years.
Clara Pantazes was murdered March 30 in the garage of the Pantazes' posh Upper
Marlboro home.
As part of an agreement with prosecutors, Chambers pleaded guilty May 26 to
first-degree murder and the handgun charge, provided she testify against
Pantazes during his capital murder trial.
"These cases have been about the darkest side of human nature," Lombardi said
before issuing the sentence. He told Chambers her sentence is more lenient than
Pantazes's two consecutive life terms.
The State's Attorney's Office originally sought the death penalty for both
Chambers and Pantazes. Chambers avoided capital punishment by agreeing to the
plea bargain, and State's Attorney Jack B. Johnson withdrew the remaining death
penalty request Dec. 8 out of consideration for the Pantazes' children.
"I want you to realize for the rest of your life that you have taken the
relationship between a mother and her daughter," said Eleni "Nike" Maria
Pantazes, 17, a high-school student.
She vowed to dedicate her life's work to the memory of her mother.
The Pantazes' son, Sotereas "Teris" Pantazes, 19, who proclaimed his father's
innocence after his sentencing, did not attend Chambers' sentencing hearing.
"May God forgive you," Clara Pantazes' sister Voula Repousis told Chambers. "I
don't think anyone of us can."
"I am, in a sense, relieved the death penalty is not an option," said Demetria
Demoleus, another sister. The death penalty would be "too merciful," she said.
She vowed to protest Chambers' parole hearings.
She delivered a message on behalf of her mother, who testified Dec. 5 of her
unwavering support for and belief in Dean Pantazes, which stated Chambers never
should have been born.
"May you always remember Clara every day when you look in the mirror," said
Susan Pantazes Brown, Dean Pantazes' twin sister.
Chambers, who sat at the defense table with her back to the victim's family
during the statements, was flanked by her two lawyers.
Her attorney Martin Rosendorf pleaded for leniency by saying Chambers was
motivated by money with which Dean Pantazes enticed her. She gave $4,500 of the
$5,000 to her three daughters, and expected Dean Pantazes to pay her another
$6,000.
"All she thought about was the money," Rosendorf said.
He said Dean Pantazes contracted with her when she was most vulnerable. She
wanted to get caught, which is why she told her cousin of the murder she
committed, he said.
Rosendorf said another indication of Chambers' desire to cooperate was her
agreeing to talk to police, confessing to the murder and then requesting the
presence of an attorney, in that order.
Lombardi allowed Chambers the opportunity to speak, and she initially declined.
Then Lombardi reminded Chambers such an opportunity probably would not again
arise.
Chambers stood up and began to face the people who just finished rebuking her
when Lombardi told her to address him.
She apologized to the family, and said "someone bigger than me manipulated me"
to commit the murder.
"I did not do this by my own hand," Chambers said. "[Dino] is the one you have
to worry about."
Lombardi then issued the sentence, stating Chambers must serve 15 years of the
murder conviction and 10 years of the handgun conviction before she'll be
eligible for parole.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.