Published: May 04, 2007 12:26 pm      

Stoess gets 30 in wife’s shooting

Before being sentenced Thursday afternoon to 30 years in prison for shooting his wife, 37-year-old Edward Stoess told the court he prays for her and their children every day.

“I can’t explain what happened on that day,” he said in little more than a whisper. “But I know it took place.”

Stoess pleaded guilty April 4 to a Class A felony for the attempted murder of his wife, Deena Stoess. Floyd County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Steve Owen said it was per her request “and almost demand” that the prosecutor’s office reach a deal with Stoess so the case did not go to trial.

“I was very willing to go to trial,” Owen said following the sentencing. “I knew we had a good case, but the reason for the (plea) agreement was because of the victim. This has been a tough time for her.”

Superior Court Judge Susan Orth accepted the plea agreement Thursday and officially sentenced Stoess to 30 years with the Indiana Department of Corrections. He will be up for parole in 2021, Orth said.

Owen said Stoess rejected the 30-year deal several times before the prosecutor’s office finally withdrew it. Owen said Deena Stoess all but demanded it be reoffered to Stoess when she heard he was finally willing to accept it.

She remains paralyzed.

Police say before shooting his wife in their Greenfield Drive home a year ago, Stoess went to Kentucky and killed her boyfriend, 35-year-old James Shuttler III, in his home.

Owen said it will now be up to Oldham County police to extradite Stoess to Kentucky to face the murder charge.