A Peoria man found guilty of shooting two women to death almost two years ago received the mandatory natural life sentence Friday in front of a packed courtroom.
Stevie Linwood, 44, was convicted in February of first-degree murder in the deaths of Zaneta Winters and Jakaiden Rynearson, his girlfriend and a neighbor, respectively, who tried to render aid.
The incident occurred in August 2024 in Peoria’s El Vista neighborhood. Officers responding to a report of shots fired in the 3400 block of North El Vista found Winters, 35, face down in the doorway of a residence, and Rynearson, 20, lying in the front yard.
According to a media release from the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office, evidence presented at trial revealed Winters ran from the house screaming for help when Linwood shot her. When Rynearson heard the gunshot and ran to help, Linwood shot her three times. Winters died days after the shooting; Rynearson died three months later.
Jurors were shown a video of Linwood’s interview with detectives, in which he admitted to shooting both women. They returned guilty verdicts in less than 30 minutes.
Letters written by the mothers of both victims were read aloud during Friday’s hearing.
Peoria County Circuit Judge Sean Donahue had no discretion in issuing the sentence, as Assistant State’s Attorney Dave Gast told the court Illinois law requires a life sentence for the murder of two victims.
