Families of two murder victims expressed outrage and grief over a plea deal that allowed the confessed killer of their loved ones to receive concurrent sentences, potentially leading to his release in less than 27 years. Marquez Hill-Turnipseed, 24, pleaded guilty to the murders of Eloe Lomax and Stageina Whiting.
Under the agreement negotiated by the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, Hill-Turnipseed received a 40-year sentence for both murders, to be served concurrently. This means he could be eligible for release in less than 27 years, around age 50, after serving two-thirds of his sentence. Prosecutors stated that decisions on resolutions are guided by case strategy and public safety, noting that Hill-Turnipseed will be removed from the community for decades.
Victim families condemned the decision to combine the sentences, arguing that each murder should have been treated as a separate case. Tasha Blanks, mother of Stageina Whiting, told KARE 11 that the victims were distinct individuals and that their murders should not have been grouped together. Talanda Burks, mother of Eloe Lomax, shared similar sentiments, emphasizing that her son was killed first and that the sentences should have reflected each offense sequentially.
The Boom Island shooting, where Stageina Whiting was killed, involved a large number of shell casings, described by prosecutor Patrick Lofton as a "war zone." Whiting was characterized as an innocent bystander caught in ongoing violence.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, who took office in 2023, has previously faced criticism for her office's handling of cases, with accusations of pursuing lenient sentences for defendants in serious crimes. Moriarty campaigned on a platform of increasing rehabilitation over incarceration for young offenders.
During the proceedings, Hill-Turnipseed's statement that his family would undergo similar suffering was rejected by Judge Michael Burns, who emphasized the profound and irreparable loss experienced by the victims' families. While the judge stated he would follow the negotiated plea, he also noted that his role is not to act as a rubber stamp for the lawyers' agreements.
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office spokesperson stated that the sentence length never reflects the incalculable value of a life lost, and that their decisions are guided by case strategy and public safety to ensure the defendant is removed from the community for decades.