Chapter 18 - The Sentencing
The sentencing hearing took place a month later.
Because of the overwhelming evidence, the premeditated nature of the crimes, and the extreme vulnerability of the victims, the judge showed absolutely no leniency.
“This court has seen many variations of human greed,” the judge stated, looking down at Marcus and Sylvia. “But the cold, calculated cruelty displayed by both of you is staggering. You treated a human life—your own family—as an inconvenient obstacle to a payout. You plotted to kill a grandmother for her real estate, and a wife for her life insurance. You are predators.”
The judge turned to Sylvia first.
“Sylvia Hale. For the attempted murder of Eleanor Hale and the associated fraud charges, I sentence you to twenty-five years in the state penitentiary, without the possibility of early parole.”
Sylvia’s knees buckled. At her age, twenty-five years was a definitive life sentence. She would die in a concrete cell.
The judge then turned to Marcus.
“Marcus Hale. You orchestrated a massive financial fraud, endangered your grandmother, and explicitly purchased a life insurance policy with the intent to murder your wife to pay off illegal gambling debts. I sentence you to forty years in federal prison.”
Marcus let out a guttural cry, fighting against the bailiffs as they pulled him backward. “Clara! Please! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”
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I stood up, buttoning my blazer, and walked out of the courtroom before he even reached the heavy wooden doors. His apologies were as worthless as the forged signatures he had tried to use against me.
The book was closed. The monsters were locked in a cage they had built with their own hands.
