A Peoria man has been sentenced to 69 years in prison for killing a woman and shooting her husband on New Year’s Day 2022.
Robert A. White, 28, faced up to life in prison for his first-degree murder and aggravated battery convictions rendered by a Peoria County jury on June 8.
Judge Kevin Lyons sentenced White to 55 years for killing Daniella Jackson, 33, and 14 years for shooting Levi Conway, 44. Lyons ordered the sentences to be served consecutively.
The couple was hosting a New Year’s Eve party that White attended. He got into an altercation with another guest. Prosecutors said after Conway led guests out of the apartment, White returned and shot him three times before fatally shooting Jackson four times.
“To be murdered by your own friend is almost more than a murder. It’s about as diabolical as it gets. What a tragedy you made of this family, and what a shame to be murdered by your own friend,” Lyons said to White, according to a news release from the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s office.
White also is charged with murder for the shooting death of 35-year-old Bridget Ross that occurred two hours after the party. A trial in that case was scheduled for earlier this week, but was canceled and no new date has been set.
