US Politics | Student’s killer sentenced to 75 years for brutal rape & murder of 20-year-old before dumping body in dorm bathtub
A MAN who prompted an almost 30-year investigation after raping and murdering a girl staying in his dorm building has finally been sentenced. Maine resident Steven Downs was hit with 75 years for the 1993 sexual assault and killing of Alaska native Sophie Sergie, 20, who was brutalized and dumped into a dormitory bathroom. 
Alaska State TroopersA man has been sentenced for the 1993 murder and sexual assault of Alaska native Sophie Sergie '/ ' 
APSteven Downs, 48, was sentenced to 75 years after the crime was investigated for nearly three decades '/ ' 
APThe Maine resident was implicated in the crime when investigators used new DNA technology to analyze samples taken after the crime '/ ' An Alaska jury convicted Downs, 48, in February of this year after a key piece of DNA evidence surfaced that connected him to the crime. The mysterious case began when Sergie decided to stay with a friend at the University of Alaska Fairbanks while she was in town for dental work. She was last seen by a friend who suggested she smoke near exhaust vents in the woman's shower to stay out of the cold, according to court records. On April 26, 1993 after Sergie stayed the night, her body was horrifically discovered in a second-floor bathroom of Bartlett Hall. read more sun stories 
'I AM LONELY' Anthony Bourdain's tragic final texts revealed in shocking new book 
SCHOOL TRAGEDY Student, 14, dies after quadruple shooting at high school football practice Investigators found the girl was killed by a gunshot wound to the back of her head ...execution style... and also suffered several stabbing injuries to the face, trial evidence showed. Additionally, semen was found in her body, suggesting sexual assault. Downs, who was a freshman at the time, lived in the same dorm as Sergie's friend. Despite being interviewed by investigators after the murder, he got off free and the case went cold. Most read in The US Sun TERRY CONCERN Fans worried about health of legendary broadcaster Terry Bradshaw PHONE HOME? Mysterious signal from deep space flashes Earth 2,000 times within 2 months OH NO, SAVANNAH! Today's Savannah caught on hot mic as show suffers technical difficulties 'INAPPROPRIATE' DWTS' Tyra Banks slammed for making 'creepy' comment to Charli D'Amelio, 18 FLIX FEARS Millions of Netflix fans say they'll QUIT app as cost of living crisis bites DANCING WITH THE DIVAS? DWTS fans shocked after Teresa Giudice grabs mic from Tyra Banks In 2019, Downs was arrested in Maine when investigators used genetic genealogy tracing on male DNA recovered with a rape kit. Genealogist CeCe Moore of Parabon Nanolad was able to connect the crime scene DNA to the profile of Downs' aunt who lived in Vermont. ...He was the only one whose DNA was found anywhere near the scene,... said Chief Assistant Attorney General Jenna Gruenstein in court according to WMTW. ...The DNA matched to him. It was his.... It took Alaska State Police 26 years to make the connection. The defense argued in Downs' favor that no motive was identified and no witnesses were ever brought to the stand. ...They have no state of mind other than a happy young 18-year-old boy hanging out with his friends,... defense attorney Jim Howaniec claimed. However, prosecutors argued that Downs killed the young woman in order to hide the sexual assault. ...He killed her to cover it up so that he could get away with it, just like he's done for 29 years until today,... said Gruenstein. Ultimately the jury found Downs guilty following two days of deliberation. On Monday, Alaska Superior Court Judge Thomas Temple sentenced the criminal to 67 years for the murder alongside an additional eight years for sexual assault. Read More on The US Sun 
MY TRUTH Joe Rogan's dad denies claims of violence & wants to reunite with podcast star 
LOVE WOES Expert reveals two major reasons Khloe Kardashian picks the wrong men The defense argued that any sentence greater than 20 years would be a life sentence as Downs exceeds 400 pounds and has high blood pressure, his attorney said. He will be eligible for parole after serving one-third of his sentence.
Alaska State TroopersA man has been sentenced for the 1993 murder and sexual assault of Alaska native Sophie Sergie '/ ' APSteven Downs, 48, was sentenced to 75 years after the crime was investigated for nearly three decades '/ ' APThe Maine resident was implicated in the crime when investigators used new DNA technology to analyze samples taken after the crime '/ ' An Alaska jury convicted Downs, 48, in February of this year after a key piece of DNA evidence surfaced that connected him to the crime. The mysterious case began when Sergie decided to stay with a friend at the University of Alaska Fairbanks while she was in town for dental work. She was last seen by a friend who suggested she smoke near exhaust vents in the woman's shower to stay out of the cold, according to court records. On April 26, 1993 after Sergie stayed the night, her body was horrifically discovered in a second-floor bathroom of Bartlett Hall. read more sun stories 'I AM LONELY' Anthony Bourdain's tragic final texts revealed in shocking new book SCHOOL TRAGEDY Student, 14, dies after quadruple shooting at high school football practice Investigators found the girl was killed by a gunshot wound to the back of her head ...execution style... and also suffered several stabbing injuries to the face, trial evidence showed. Additionally, semen was found in her body, suggesting sexual assault. Downs, who was a freshman at the time, lived in the same dorm as Sergie's friend. Despite being interviewed by investigators after the murder, he got off free and the case went cold. Most read in The US Sun TERRY CONCERN Fans worried about health of legendary broadcaster Terry Bradshaw PHONE HOME? Mysterious signal from deep space flashes Earth 2,000 times within 2 months OH NO, SAVANNAH! Today's Savannah caught on hot mic as show suffers technical difficulties 'INAPPROPRIATE' DWTS' Tyra Banks slammed for making 'creepy' comment to Charli D'Amelio, 18 FLIX FEARS Millions of Netflix fans say they'll QUIT app as cost of living crisis bites DANCING WITH THE DIVAS? DWTS fans shocked after Teresa Giudice grabs mic from Tyra Banks In 2019, Downs was arrested in Maine when investigators used genetic genealogy tracing on male DNA recovered with a rape kit. Genealogist CeCe Moore of Parabon Nanolad was able to connect the crime scene DNA to the profile of Downs' aunt who lived in Vermont. ...He was the only one whose DNA was found anywhere near the scene,... said Chief Assistant Attorney General Jenna Gruenstein in court according to WMTW. ...The DNA matched to him. It was his.... It took Alaska State Police 26 years to make the connection. The defense argued in Downs' favor that no motive was identified and no witnesses were ever brought to the stand. ...They have no state of mind other than a happy young 18-year-old boy hanging out with his friends,... defense attorney Jim Howaniec claimed. However, prosecutors argued that Downs killed the young woman in order to hide the sexual assault. ...He killed her to cover it up so that he could get away with it, just like he's done for 29 years until today,... said Gruenstein. Ultimately the jury found Downs guilty following two days of deliberation. On Monday, Alaska Superior Court Judge Thomas Temple sentenced the criminal to 67 years for the murder alongside an additional eight years for sexual assault. Read More on The US Sun MY TRUTH Joe Rogan's dad denies claims of violence & wants to reunite with podcast star LOVE WOES Expert reveals two major reasons Khloe Kardashian picks the wrong men The defense argued that any sentence greater than 20 years would be a life sentence as Downs exceeds 400 pounds and has high blood pressure, his attorney said. He will be eligible for parole after serving one-third of his sentence.
No comments: