DeKALB – Jonathan Hurst was sentenced to life plus 30 years in prison Thursday for the killing of Sycamore residents Patricia and Robert Wilson.
Hurst was convicted of murder at the end of January, almost a decade after the Wilsons were found beaten to death in their home in 2016.
On Feb. 26, almost a month after a jury found Hurst guilty, Hurst’s attorney filed a motion for a new trial or judgment notwithstanding the verdict, which would have allowed a new judgment to be entered without a new trial.
Judge Marcy Buick denied both motions on Thursday.
Hurst was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of the Wilsons, plus 30 years for home invasion.
Hurst chose not to comment at the hearing, according to a statement from the office of DeKalb State’s Attorney Riley Oncken.
“Although Jonathan Hurst was given the opportunity to speak on his own behalf, he chose not to give any explanation for why he murdered the Wilsons,” the statement said. “His silence leaves the Wilson family and our community with the unanswered question of why he committed such a horrific crime and then simply drove home to Chicago, never looking back.”
Oncken’s statement said the office regrets that Hurst chose not to explain his actions.
“His answer would likely not bring any real satisfaction or help us understand why he brutally murdered two elderly and defenseless members of our community, but his lack of accountability is infuriating,” the statement said. “In light of the evidence in aggravation of the home invasion charge, Judge Buick did the right thing in sentencing him to the maximum of 30 years. Jonathan Hurst will die in prison, which I hope can bring the Wilson family and our community some consolation. Justice was served.”
