A Madison County man was sentenced to life in prison in two separate cases – the shooting death of a man at his Berea apartment and the murder of a couple whose bodies were found two years after they went missing.
Matthew Denholm was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole in 25 years in the deaths of Charles “Chew” Walker and Sonsary Warford, who were found buried in a field in 2012.
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Denholm was also sentenced Wednesday to life with possibility of parole in 20 years in the sniper-style attack in November 2011 that killed Zachary Flower at his Berea apartment.
In August, Denholm pleaded guilty in both cases avoiding the death penalty.
Denholm, an Iraq War veteran, told the judge then in his own words what happened the night the couple was killed, as the families of the victims sat in court.
“I was given money to kidnap Charles Walker at his residence and Sonsaray Warford happened to be there,” Denholm said. “I shot Ms. Warford. I was present when Mr. Walker was killed and later they were placed in an unmarked grave.”
The couple went missing in 2010 and their bodies weren’t found until 2012. Denholm said he was given money to kill Walker who allegedly stole money from someone else.
The couple’s relatives cried listening to Denholm admitting to the crime.
“I don’t really see justice,” said Gregory Todd, Warford’s father. “We just waiting for God to have his way at the end of it.”
In an unrelated case, Denholm pleaded guilty to killing aspiring rapper Zackary Flower by shooting him multiple times through a closed door in 2011. But in his explanation, Denholm eluded he acted out of self-defense and the judge didn’t like it.
“I just did it… what I practiced doing,” he said.
“That was not satisfactory,” the judge answered.
Only after Denholm said he intentionally killed Flower, did the judge accept his plea.
Lebruce Ellington is also accused in the death of Walker and Warford. He pleaded not guilty in January 2013. Daniel Keene is also charged in the case.
