Teen gets 36 years in prison for murdering grandmother
A teenager who murdered his great-grandmother with a hatchet has been sentenced to 36 years in prison.
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On Monday, Barbeau broke down in court as the judge revealed he will not be eligible for parole until he was 50. He started crying after trying to read a statement of apology — but he handed it over to his defense attorney, who also fought back the tears.
Antonio Barbeau, 14, and his friend Nathan Paape murdered the 78-year-old Barbara Olson with a hatchet in her home in Shaboygan, Wis., last September for a mere $155.
Judge Timothy Van Akkeren described the crime as "nothing short of horrific" and said the sentence was "the minimum" based on the crime.
"In my 24 years on the bench, I've not seen anything of this nature. Not even close," he said.
The Sheboygan Press reported how the great-grandmother invited the friends into her home but when she turned her back to call Barbeau's mother, her great-grandson hit her on the head.
He then ran to the bathroom feeling sick but said that when he came back he saw Paape hit her with the hatchet multiple times.
Her body was found in a pool of blood.
The court held that Barbeau had sustained a brain injury in 2009 after a car accident that left him with "unspecified cognitive disorder" that had played a role in his decision to commit a crime.
But it was not enough to ignore the brutal nature of the murder.
District attorney Joe DeCecco said he felt bad for the family.
"I know they love him. But this type of crime cannot go unanswered and be explained away by brain trauma,” he said.
Olson's daughter read a statement that also had Barbeau in tears.
The Shaboygan Press said Judy Offus said: "My mom was not a vindictive person. She would want (Antonio) to have a chance to be a better person, to have hope, to have something to work towards."
Source: Nydailynews.com
