Father sentenced for killing infant
WAYNESBURG – Greene County Judge H. Terry Grimes told convicted killer Chad Willis Wynn Thursday he was “aggrieved and appalled” at the way he shook his 2-month-old daughter, Destiny Wynn, to death nearly two years ago. As a result, Grimes sentenced 23-year-old Wynn to 20 to 40 years in prison for the third-degree murder conviction jurors returned in August.
The infant daughter of Chad and Shanea Wynn died at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh after she was rushed there from a local hospital. Testimony at Wynn’s trial showed that the baby was likely hit against something or hit with something and then violently shaken.
Chad Wynn was the sole caretaker at the time Destiny Wynn was injured, according to testimony.
Shanea Wynn, Chad’s wife, said she was pleased that Wynn’s sentence was lengthy, despite his attorney’s requests for understanding and leniency due to his low IQ and poor upbringing.
“I’m happy he’ll be in (prison) for a very long time,” said Wynn, who is seeking a divorce.
The young woman said she took exception to Chad Wynn’s claims that she injured their child by throwing the girl on the couch before her Dec. 18, 2000, death. Wynn made those claims to an adult probation officer assigned to his case.
“I knew he wasn’t going to take the blame for it. He never will,” Shanea Wynn said.
District Attorney Marjorie Fox agreed.
“Until he learns to accept responsibility for his actions, I don’t think there will be any changes in Mr. Wynn,” Fox said.
But court appointed defense attorney John Knorr disagreed.
He presented testimony from Wynn’s mother that he himself was abused as a child. Evalena Simmons also testified her son’s last IQ test was 62. Knorr told Grimes that the IQ level for mental retardation in the country is 70.
Simmons, who was married to Wynn’s father for the first six years of her son’s life, testified that her husband beat them both out of anger when he could not get money for marijuana.
She testified that she believes her husband may have pushed Wynn out of a three-foot window when he was 1-year-old, and testified Jerrel Wynn inflicted other head injuries to their son early on in his life.
Jerrel Wynn, testified Simmons, is incarcerated in Florida for robbing a convenience store.
Simmons also testified that although she and her son were abused she never contacted police or sought any other type of help.
She also painted a picture of a troubled teen who tried to commit suicide when he was 13 and sexually abused his brother at 17.
Nonetheless, testified Simmons, her son was “very good” with his daughter.
“He loved that little girl – that was his life,” she said, crying.
Destiny Wynn’s other grandmother, Kim Nakoneczny, also testified. Nakoneczny, Shanea Wynn’s mother, said that her son-in-law should pay for the baby’s death in prison.
“It has devastated us. He took my joy out of my life,” Nakoneczny said.
Knorr, meanwhile, said he plans to appeal the conviction to the state Superior Court and has 30 days to do so.
He said he will cite court errors, including Grimes’ refusal to allow him to cross-examine Shanea Wynn about her use of other names through a web site she allegedly ran.