County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser said as part of the agreement, Delaney pleaded guilty and will spend the rest of his life behind bars. He said Delaney hid in a closet and waited for Decker to return home then opened fire.
Gmoser said the decision to not seek the death penalty came after speaking with the victim’s family regarding what they would have to endure over the ensuing years of delays and appeals before the sentence would be carried out.
“Yes, taxpayers will now pay the cost of incarceration in a dangerous place, but that cost over perhaps the next 20 years of appeals would be paid anyway in addition to the continuous litigation expense on the almost endless appeals without an absolute certainty of a result,” Gmoser said.
Delaney declined to make a statement before his sentencing. The courtroom was packed with both his family members and Samantha’s family. Many wore buttons depicting Samantha and her 3½-year-old son Peyton.
Most had no comment following the short hearing, but Samantha’s mother, Kellie Koehler, said “I am glad we got justice and now we can move on … we can focus on Peyton.”
Koehler, a Liberty Twp. resident, said the little boy is doing well. She said her daughter’s death was all about control.
“He (Delaney) realized he could no longer control her,” Koehler said.
The plea comes on the same day the nation’s Death Penalty Information Center released annual information.
With 39 executions in 2013, this year marks only the second time in nearly two decades that the United States executed less than 40 people, according to the center. Executions declined about 10 percent compared to 2012 and by 60 percent since 1999.
There were 80 new death penalty sentences in 2013 and 77 in 2012, which was the lowest number since 1973.
“Clearly, a premeditated murder by one laying in wait is among the worst forms of aggravated murder,” Gmoser said. “But juries have been deferential to the opportunity historically in Butler County to impose life without the possibility of parole in similar, if not worse cases.”
But, the prosecutor added, “The citizens of Butler County should know I will always consider the imposition of the death sentence whenever appropriate for the worst of the worst as in this case with careful and thoughtful consideration of all factors bearing on the issue.”
Decker, 24, was found shot multiple times just after 3 a.m. Oct. 31 at the Villages at Wildwood Luxury Apartments. Delaney and Decker’s son was not in the residence at the time of the shooting.
Delaney turned himself into police Nov. 1 after an arrest warrant was issued.
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