Before being sentenced Thursday afternoon to 30 years in prison for shooting his wife, 37-year-old Edward Stoess told the court he prays for her and their children every day.
“I can’t explain what happened on that day,” he said in little more than a whisper. “But I know it took place.”
Stoess pleaded guilty April 4 to a Class A felony for the attempted murder of his wife, Deena Stoess. Floyd County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Steve Owen said it was per her request “and almost demand” that the prosecutor’s office reach a deal with Stoess so the case did not go to trial.
“I was very willing to go to trial,” Owen said following the sentencing. “I knew we had a good case, but the reason for the (plea) agreement was because of the victim. This has been a tough time for her.”
Superior Court Judge Susan Orth accepted the plea agreement Thursday and officially sentenced Stoess to 30 years with the Indiana Department of Corrections. He will be up for parole in 2021, Orth said.
Owen said Stoess rejected the 30-year deal several times before the prosecutor’s office finally withdrew it. Owen said Deena Stoess all but demanded it be reoffered to Stoess when she heard he was finally willing to accept it.
She remains paralyzed.
Police say before shooting his wife in their Greenfield Drive home a year ago, Stoess went to Kentucky and killed her boyfriend, 35-year-old James Shuttler III, in his home.
Owen said it will now be up to Oldham County police to extradite Stoess to Kentucky to face the murder charge.
Floyd County
Stoess gets 30 in wife’s shooting
- Floyd County
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Georgetown spelunker died of self-inflicted gunshot
Crawford County Coroner Chris Brown said he agreed with the pathologist’s finding that Eve died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a statement released Tuesday morning by the Department of Natural Resources.
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Greenville town manager hired, incensing silenced crowd
Richardson threatened to have the town marshal clear the gym, but decided against it.
“I am asking people out there to stay out of it. This has nothing to do with you. You elected us to represent you.”
But that only go the crowd more incensed.
“You ought to be run out of town Talbotte,” yelled one resident. -
New Albany council opposes two low-income developments
Councilman Greg Phipps said the measure was changed because there could be “some legal issues” with the way it was originally written. He said regardless, such a resolution that targets low-income developments intimates underlying stereotypes to the community even if it’s not the intention of those who supported the measure.
- News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 7, 2012
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Students get time out for good behavior
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Student sues to wear breast cancer bracelet
An Indiana eighth-grader sued his school district in federal court Monday for the right to wear a bracelet promoting breast cancer awareness with the message “I (heart) Boobies.”
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New Albany house destroyed by fire
The fire department arrived within six minutes, but the fire had already made its way out of the garage and across the attic. The homeowners heard explosions from the garage area.
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Body found in cave may be missing Georgetown man
Conservation Officer Jeff Milner said they believe it is Eve based on evidence found at the scene.
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Council considers opposing low-income developments
Councilman John Gonder said he supports a system that would allow the city to cap sewer credits for low-income housing and give preference to the New Albany Housing Authority.
He conceded his wife does sit on the housing authority board, but believes the city should give favor to the entity when it comes to low-income lodging because it has to meet federal guidelines. - News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 6, 2012
- More Floyd County Headlines
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