Twardoski pleads guilty to first-degree murder in plea deal
<span>In a surprise announcement, Derrick J. Twardoski pled guilty to one count of first-degree murder in connection to a May 10, 2013 house fire in Percy that claimed the lives of four children.</span>
<span>Appearing before Judge Richard A. Brown on Wednesday at the Randolph County Courthouse in Chester, the 34-year-old Twardoski waived his right to a jury trial and faces sentencing on Oct. 3 at 9 a.m.</span>
<span>He had previously faced the judge during a case management hearing on July 30, when both public defender James A. Kelley and Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker announced they were ready for trial.</span>
<span>"I'm very happy to get a resolution, especially for the sake of the family," Walker said. "I think it's a relief for (the family) and if they are receiving relief, I am receiving relief."</span>
<span>Twardoski had been charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the arson deaths of 12-year-old Ethan Owen, 9-year-old Kailey Owen and 5-year-old twins Landan and Brandan Owen.</span>
<span>The parents, Mathew and Natasha Owen, survived the fire along with Noah Owen, who was 7 at the time. A cousin, Megan Inselmann, was living with the family and working as a babysitter.</span>
<span>She alerted the family to the fire and rescued Noah Owen, who sleeping on a downstairs couch. </span>
<span>All of the children killed were sleeping upstairs and heavy smoke prevented the family from reaching them.</span>
<span>"Before our court date on July 30, Capt. Donnie Krull from the Randolph County Sheriff's Office and I had an extensive meeting with the parents about a possible plea," said Walker, who noted Krull was the lead investigator on the case. "During our meeting, I attempted to answer all of their questions regarding the pros and cons of a plea versus trial."</span>
<span>Walker said a big factor in the family's decision to pursue a plea deal was to avoid "at least three juveniles, including the surviving child (Noah Owen) and the child of the defendant, from having to testify at trial."</span>
<span>In a Facebook post, Mathew Owen said accepting the plea deal was one of the hardest decisions the family had to make, but he felt he couldn't put another of his children through the trial.</span>
<span>"From Day 1, I told the Owens' I would only negotiate a plea in their case if I had their 100 percent support in doing so," said Walker, who added the possibility of a plea deal had been discussed with the parents since April.</span>
<span>Walker said the plea deal was discussed again between Krull and family members last weekend and afterwards, he received a phone call from the Owens'. </span>
<span>The Owens gave their final decision and Walker notified the defense counsel on Monday.</span>
<span>"I was advised later that day that Twardoski would plead guilty to one count," Walker said.</span>
<span>A motive has not been released. Walker said that due to the fact that the case is still open until 30 days after sentencing, no specific details of the events leading up to or including the day of the fire would be released or discussed at this time.</span>
<span>"By extending this plea, myself, the Sheriff's Office, Illinois State Police and other assisting law enforcement agencies, and the family of the victims, are placing our faith in Judge Brown that the final sentence will, in practicality, be life in prison," Walker said.</span>
<span>Twardoski faces a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison and under Illinois law, is not eligible for early release or good conduct credits.</span>
<span>He would be 93 upon completion of his sentence.</span>
<span>"Not many, if any, people live that long in corrections," Walker said.</span>