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Twardoski sentenced to 53 years in prison

Posted October 03, 2014 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler The Herald Tribune

Derrick J. Twardoski was sentenced to 53 years in prison by Judge Richard A. Brown at the Randolph County Courthouse on Friday.

Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker said Twardoski, 34, will be 86 years old when eligible for parole in 2066. Twardoski's attorney, public defender James W. Kelley, requested the minimum sentence of 20 years in prison, while the state asked for the maximum of 60.

Walker said he did not know how Brown reached the 53 figure.

"If I only knew," he said. "I always expected Judge Brown may give him a few years off the top end for saving the family from a trial."

Twardoski pleaded guilty in August to one count of first-degree murder in connection to the arson deaths of 12-year-old Ethan Owen, 9-year-old Kailey Owen and 5-year-old twins Landan and Brandan Owen in a house fire in the 800 block of West Almond Street in Percy on May 10, 2013.

He had previously been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and had been scheduled to face trial on Sept. 8 before a plea deal was reached.

"Talking with the family through the whole process, the goal was to get over 50," Walker said. "If we got over 50, it would be a success."

In regards to motive, Walker said it stems from a residential burglary in April 2013. Some items were taken from Twardoski's trailer in rural Cutler and Twardoski's daughter, whose name was not released, recognized some of the items in a juvenile's possession.

Walker was relaying information from lead investigator Capt. Donnie Krull from the Randolph County Sheriff's Office, who testified in Friday's sentencing hearing.

While speaking with the juvenile and the juvenile's family - Amanda Powell and her boyfriend, Justin Green - Twardoski said, in an interview with law enforcement, that he was told by the juvenile that a child by the name of Matt Owen was the one who took the items from Twardoski's trailer.

Twardoski did find some of his missing items in the juvenile's bedroom.

"There is no truth to this whatsoever," Walker said in regards to the Owen connection. "Matt was an adult and father of the kids and that's how the Owen family got dragged into this."

Walker said Twardoski started getting upset and made statements about burning the Owen's house down as early as May 8, more than a full day before the fire.

"The investigation shows Twardoski went to St. Clair County and stayed with a family member who testified Twardoski said he knew who took his stuff and would "make them pay," Walker said.

Twardoski eventually got a description of the Owen's home and its general location in Percy from one of his daughter's friends, who Walker said was not aware of Twardoski's plans.

On May 9, Walker said Twardoski visited two Willisville-area drinking establishments, Broadway Corner Lounge and Stokerz Saloon, and made statements at both places that he would burn the Owen's house down.

Patrons at the establishments, apparently, did not take him seriously.

At some point prior to the fire, Twardoski entered the Owen's home, wearing a jacket and a mask, and discovered then 7-year-old Noah Owen sleeping on the couch.

"It appears he knew there was at least a child in the house," Walker said. "Twardoski said he knew children lived there, but believed they would get out."

Walker said the first 9-1-1 call went out at 1:53 a.m. on May 10. Twardoski was at the residence of Darrell G. Kempfer and had been telling people he "just set fire to the house down the street."

Walker said that upon learning that the children did not make it out of the Owen residence during the fire, Twardoski handed a knife to Kempfer's daughter, Amber, with instructions for her to kill him because "he was dead anyway."

Twardoski then left the Kempfer residence and returned to Willisville, where he was picked up by his mother and stepfather. By this time, law enforcement was tracking Twardoski's trail and people at the Kempfer residence informed authorities of his whereabouts.

Twardoski was eventually detained by the Jackson County Sheriff's Department before being picked up by a Randolph County Sheriff's deputy and taken back to the county.

He was officially charged the afternoon of May 10.

Walker said Twardoski does have the ability to challenge his sentence.

"He has 30 days to file a motion for the judge to reconsider his sentence," Walker said. "I would consider, for the most part, this case to be closed."

On his Facebook page, Mathew Owen - the father of the victims - asked his friends and family members of the victims to not act out in anger.

"Then we ourselves are no better than the monster that took our children away," Owen wrote.

Owen told the Herald Tribune that the family will try and put their lives back together "the best we can" now that Twardoski has been sentenced.

"We have been hoping what happened to us may make families closer and not take even the smallest details in life for granted," he said.

Walker said Twardoski will be taken to a reception center prior to incarceration within the Illinois Department of Corrections.

"No matter what we would have done to him, it wouldn't have brought the kids back," Walker said. "Hopefully the family has some closure and can heal and this will bring an unfortunate chapter of their lives to a close."

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