DES MOINES – Noah Laprie, 19, has been sentenced to 50 years for the death of Rachel pray, 79.
He entered the plea for second degree murder, meaning he acknowledges that there was enough evidence to convict him. But there will be no trial or verdict.
A courtroom filled with family members, some were there to give impact statements before Judge Karen Romano, but everyone seemed to be there in support of both Noah and his grandma.
Judge Romano took all of this into consideration before finally handing down a sentence.
“Noah John Laprie is adjudged guilty of murder in the 2nd degree in violation of code section 707.3 to be in prison for a period not to exceed 50 years,” said Judge Karen Romano.
A few family members took the stand before the verdict, supporting 19-year-old Noah Laprei.
“I watched you grow up and become an outgoing and caring young man. I would never have though this possible. I know someday I will forgive you and just know that I love you,” said a family member.
Others say he doesn’t deserve to spend his life in jail.
“Noah loved her so much. I know he did and unfortunately he was handed a loaded gun that night and it’s all very serious and he will have to live with it for the rest of his life, but I really don’t think that place should be prison,” said Noah’s cousin, Shade Sanders.
Noah himself says he’s sorry for what he did that night.
“There’s so many people that were affected by this and everyone here today and I could, I’m just so, I ever in a million years, I never wanted, I never intended for this to happen, I didn’t want it to happen, I wasn’t in my right state of mind,” said Laprie. “I loved my grandma. I told her I loved her every day when I left, when I got off the phone with her. I thanked her for every time she did my laundry or prepared a meal for me and when she helped me because she helped my so many times.”
Noah’s uncle says he believes Noah’s remorseful and this sentence is the best thing that could happen.
“Now he can get his life straightened around and come back and live a life. He’ll never forget what he did ever,” said Noah’s uncle, Roy Pray.
Noah was sentenced to 50 years with no mandatory minimum. It will be up to the Department of Corrections to determine where he will serve his time and when he would be released. The judge says she believes he will serve a number of years before he’s released.
Noah does have a chance to appeal the judgment, but that has be filed within 30 days from today.
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DES MOINES- A teen charged with killing his own grandmother was given a 50-year prison sentence Thursday for 2nd Degree Murder.
Noah LaPrei, 19, was charged with 1st Degree Murder in 2015 after 79-year-old Rachel Pray was found beaten to death in her home. LaPrei entered an Alford Plea in April 2017, pleading down to 2nd Degree Murder. The plea means he maintains his innocence, but acknowledges the fact that there was enough evidence for conviction.
The prison sentence comes with no mandatory minimum, and LaPrei will be required to pay restitution.
Victim impact statements were read by family members in court Thursday, asking the court for a lesser sentence.
Stay tuned to Local 5 for more details on this story.
