[Followup] Life w/out parole in rest stop murder
Anne Warfield
Life behind bars for Kevin Bray
No parole possible in beating death of Heather Tomich
September 27, 2001
By JESSICA L. ABERLE
of the Journal Star
PONTIAC - Kevin Bray will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
"The Bible says thou shall not kill," Debbie Steht said moments before
a judge sentenced the 29-year-old Bray to natural life in prison for
the beating death of Heather Tomich, a former Canton resident.
"On Jan. 18, 2001, Kevin Bray took it upon himself to take my
daughter's life," Steht said. "If it had been his child, what would
her murderer consider fair and just? In our belief, and as a people,
we strive to show mercy.
"Where was mercy when Kevin Bray beat and kicked Heather to death?"
Bray pleaded guilty Aug. 6 to 15 counts of first-degree murder for the
slaying of Tomich at an Interstate 55 rest stop near Pontiac.
In Livingston County Circuit Court on Wednesday, Judge Harold Frobish
found that Bray showed "exceptional brutality and heinous behavior
indicative of wanton cruelty" in kicking and stomping to death the
defenseless Tomich.
But State's Attorney Tom Brown said the killing alone, no matter how
brutal, did not make Bray eligible for the death penalty.
"Unfortunately," Brown added.
Illinois State Police crime scene investigator Michael Bernadini
testified there was "an exorbitant amount of blood" at the crime
scene.
Details of the injuries often were so graphic that family and friends
of the victim hurried out of the courtroom. Others sat with their
hands folded in prayer.
Defense attorney David Ahlemeyer argued "it's pretty hard to have a
decent murder. Murder is brutal, and murder is heinous. Murder is
awful."
"Maybe it is impossible to beat somebody to death without it doing it
brutally," he said.
Sounds of weeping and gasps of relief and joy rose from the courtroom
gallery as Frobish said Bray would be eligible for an extended
sentence.
Frobish, however, still had to decide what sentence Bray would serve.
The defense offered the testimony of forensic psychiatrist Robert
Chapman, who said Bray suffers from five separate mental disorders,
"none of which would be considered grave and serious."
The defense argued that Bray suffered an "explosive rage reaction" due
to a coincidence of events.
But Brown said no one but Bray really knows the motive for the deadly
attack. There were no witnesses, and Brown said there is no evidence
to support any of Bray's statements. Brown said there is no evidence
to indicate it had anything to do with road rage.
Testimony revealed that Bray saw Tomich on the I-55 highway and
followed her into the rest area and women's rest room where he
attacked her.
Tomich had never met her attacker and was on her way to Canton to
comfort a friend whose father has passed away.
"Heather was a beautiful, vibrant 26-year-old woman," her mother told
the court.
Bray showed no emotion as Steht read the four-page statement to the
court. He declined to make a comment when given the chance by Frobish.
And as Frobish uttered the words: "never be released from prison,"
gasps, wails and "thank God" filled the courtroom.
Bray still showed no emotion.
Outside, the embracing continued, and Tomich's mother addressed the
crowd.
"I'm relieved to know that she did not die for nothing. That he will
not be out there where he can do this to some other innocent person,"
she said.
"What parents really need to do is love their kids every day," Steht
said. "Hug them and don't take for granted that they're always going
to be there, because you never know."
http://pjstar.com/news/regional/g64252a.html
--
Anne Warfield
indigoace at goodsol period com
http://www.goodsol.com/cats/