March 13, 1998 - Lillelid Sentencing
All six defendants were given the maximum sentence Friday afternoon for their involvement in the April 1997 Roadside murders off I-81 in Greene County.

(BECKNER VOICER....OC...CONSECUTIVELY)

Judge James Beckner pronounced that sentence for each of the three murder charges against 20 year old Natasha Wallin Cornett, 20 year old Edward Dean Mullins, 21 year old Joseph Risner, 19 year old Crystal Sturgill, 15 year old Jason Bryant and 18 year old Karen Howell for the deaths of Vidar, Delphinia and Tabitha Lillelid. The six were also sentenced to the maximum of 25 years for the attempted murder of Peter Lillelid.

The defendants had pleaded guilty in February to escape the death penalty.

District Attorney General Berkeley Bell says he was satisfied with the judges decision.

(BELL VOICER...OC...OUT)(:25)

The defendants will remain at the Greene County Detention Center for at least the next week, until being turned over to the Department of Corrections.