Husband who killed wife gets 23 years to life sentence
YOUNGSTOWN — There were no emotional outbursts from family members in the court gallery, but the victim’s sister hopes something positive can come from the trial and conviction of Jason Hymes Sr., who killed his wife Ryan with his hands.
Hymes, 47, was given the maximum sentence Thursday — 23 years to life in prison — by Judge Anthony D’Apolito for the February death of his wife.
One week earlier, a jury of six women and six men had returned guilty verdicts for the four felonies, including aggravated murder. Just before the jury got the case, D’Apolito had to clear his Mahoning County Common Pleas courtroom when Ryan Hymes’ father stood up and challenged the defendant.
Things were much calmer during Thursday’s sentencing. D’Apolito warned the gallery, which included many family members wearing shirts bearing Ryan Hymes’ image, that demonstrations would not be tolerated.
Before sentencing, Ladawnda Smith, sister of the victim, and Ryan Hymes’ daughter Ryaanna, delivered emotional victim-impact statements.
“It is hard today to be standing in front of the court. Two families — that was family — torn apart by the action of one individual,” Smith said, fighting back tears and then giving tribute to her dead sibling for being an organ donor. “She left here a hero; she saved four lives.”
The victim’s daughter fought tears in saying she wished she could see her mother’s face.
After the hearing, Smith spoke out about domestic violence.
“I just want to pray that no other family will have to lose someone like we lost Ryan. People have to speak up more in these kinds of (domestic violence) situations. It is about time to say it is not OK to hurt someone.”
In court, the defendant claimed responsibility and apologized, but the judge immediately admonished him.
“I wished you could have accepted responsibility before that trial. It would have saved the suffering of this family and the ordeal of your stepdaughter from having to testify,” the judge told Hymes.
D’Apolito had the final word, handing down the consecutive sentences — 15 years to life for the aggravated murder and then the eight-year term for the aggravated assault conviction. Hymes was also convicted of charges of simple murder and domestic violence, felonies that were merged into the other charges for sentencing purposes.
The two-day trial was highlighted by the prosecutors playing a video that was taken from the exterior security camera of Topsy’s Lounge, 1375 Logan Ave., the night of Feb. 13. The seven-minute video, which was played during testimony and then during closing arguments, graphically showed Hymes severely beating his wife, inside and outside a pickup truck parked near the entrance to the bar. Footage showed Hymes punching his wife twice and banging her head against the side of the vehicle.
Ryan Hymes died Feb. 15 of severe brain injuries.
When the video was played the second time, Ryan Hymes’ father stood up and challenged the defendant to a fight. Deputies immediately escorted the man out of the courtroom and then shortly afterward cleared everyone out as the jurors were read instructions by the judge.
Jurors took less than an hour to decide on the guilty verdicts.
gvogrin@tribtoday.com