Linn County Attorney seeks 50 year sentence for girl in 2013 fatal stabbing

Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden asked a judge Thursday to give a 50-year sentence to a 16-year-old girl who pleaded guilty to killing a man who was fatally stabbed 39 times in 2013.

Vander Sanden asked 6th Judicial District Judge Mary Chicchelly to sentence Daimonay Richardson up to 50 years, which would require her to serve a mandatory 35 years before she could be eligible for parole.

Richardson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in February for her role in killing Ronald Kunkle, 22, at his residence May 18, 2013. She was 15-years-old at the time. She admitted that she and boyfriend, D Anthony Curd, 19, of Cedar Rapids, armed themselves with steak knives and planned to rob Kunkle of $2,000 but ended up stabbing him to death.

As part of the plea agreement, Richardson has to testify against Curd, charged with first-degree murder, at his trial.

Richardson's attorneys argued for a deferred sentence with probation or a suspended sentence with no mandatory time, little prison time and probation.

The sentencing hearing will continue 9 a.m. Friday in Linn County District Court. The judge will likely make a ruling next month.

Vander Sanden presented evidence to show violence of the crime, Richardson's behavior in the juvenile system and victim impact statements were given by Kunkle's parents.

Dennis Cohen and Rachel Antonnucio, Richardson's attorneys, put on witnesses to explain Richardson's home life, and how her behavior changed after she met Curd.

John McDaniel, Cedar Rapids Police crime scene investigator, described in graphic details the condition of Kunkle's body and his apartment. The body wasn't found for almost a month later on June 10, 2013. There were large areas of blood on the flooring, carpet and sofa, where Kunkle was stabbed, and there was blood splatter all over the area.

McDaniel said the body was dragged from the living room to the bathroom, leaving a large blood trail. The body was found in the bathroom and his face had been covered by clothing and a towel. There had also been bleach poured over his body.

McDaniel said Kunkle was stabbed in the head, neck and the front and back of his torso. The medical examiner determined there were 39 stab wounds but it was difficult to determine because of the condition of the body.

McDaniel on cross admitted he couldn't say if the three wounds Richardson inflicted produced the blood splatter in the apartment.

Mary Kunkle, Ronald's mother, in a victim's impact statement said she wanted the court to understand the life that Richardson took and to know her son who was loved by his parents, siblings and other many other family members.

Mary Kunkle said her son as an infant and toddler had been neglected, sexually and physically abused, and had even survived bad burns as a 2-year-old. Ronald came into her life in 1995, when she and her husband adopted him. Adoption didn't make him whole but they put him in therapy and eventually placed him into residential treatment.

His mother said he was smart but too trusting and connected with the 'wrong” people. He was a 'talented artist and strong athlete. He had a great smile…I will never forget that smile,” she said tearing up.

Mary Kunkle said he had finally overcome some of his struggles and had changed in the last two years of his life.

'He had so much potential,” she said. 'She stole his opportunity to heal.”

She asked for prison time for Richardson but said she would leave how much time up to the judge.

'It was so brutal, so bloody – it wasn't child's play” she said.

Rob Kunkle in his impact statement, read by a Horizons Survivor's program advocate, said he thought Richardson should get a number of years in prison to keep her from her own child, which she had while in custody. He said it wasn't just the fact that his life was taken for a few dollars but that Richardson walked by his apartment afterwards and used his EBT card to access money from his account.

For the defense, Richardson's mother and several family members testified that Richardson was being controlled by Curd and that he got her involved with drugs and alcohol.

Akila Abraham, Richardson's mother, said her daughter changed after losing her grandmother, which 'devastated” her, was the victim of rape, and then after she met Curd she became rebellious, started cutting school, breaking curfews and drinking and doing drugs. Abraham said her daughter stopped listening to her and only listened to Curd. She loves her daughter and she knows her head is 'clear” again and 'he's not in her head.”