A St. Louis man has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term by a judge for his involvement in the kidnapping, assault, and murder of a disabled woman in 2021.
Anthony Newberry, 29, has been handed a 20-year prison sentence for a second-degree murder conviction, along with a 15-year sentence for a kidnapping charge. He will serve both sentences at the same time.
Newberry has been found guilty of the tragic killing of Lynette Lecates, a 41-year-old woman, in the Bevo Mill neighborhood of St. Louis on May 23, 2021.
According to investigators, Newberry and another individual allegedly took Lecates’ debit card, but were unable to use it as they did not possess her PIN. According to reports, Lecates was assaulted and coerced into the trunk of Newberry’s car after she declined to provide the suspects with her PIN.
Newberry allegedly drove to an industrial area where he and an accomplice allegedly assaulted Lecates and forcefully removed a dialysis port from her chest. She was discovered in an unconscious state near the railroad tracks. According to investigators, her unfortunate demise occurred approximately two weeks after she was abducted and subjected to physical assault, as a result of health complications.
Read More: Louisiana Prison Officer Arrested for Abusing Female Inmates; Fired after Apprehension
At approximately 4 a.m., authorities discovered Newberry in his vehicle, unconscious and with loud music playing. He was subsequently apprehended by the police for driving under the influence, as reported by the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office.
Newberry claimed to have no recollection of any events involving Lecates, attributing it to a drug-induced blackout.
Darris Williams, 37, is also implicated in the tragic demise of Lecates. His trial is set for October, where he will face charges of first-degree murder, robbery, kidnapping, and causing harm and fear to Lecates.
In another incident, Newberry is facing accusations of holding a 70-year-old corrections officer hostage while he was in custody at the St. Louis Justice Center on August 22, 2023.