ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis man found guilty of first-degree murder in April was sentenced to life without parole Monday, a written statement from the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri said.
Prosecutors described the 2021 Lindenwood Park murder as a "thrill kill" of an innocent victim, the statement said. Ledra Craig, 21, was found guilty by a jury in April of fatally shooting 53-year-old Donald Yorker outside his home in the 3300 block of Leola Avenue.
Craig was also sentenced to a consecutive term of 15 years for armed criminal action.
"Doorbell video showed a man approach Yorker, who had just parked outside his home, and ask Yorker for directions to Union Station," the statement said. "As Yorker gave directions, Craig fatally shot Yorker in the face with a 9mm pistol."
Investigators used cellphone data that demonstrated Craig was in the area when the shooting took place. An image of the victim from a local news story was saved on Craig's phone.
“This was a cold-blooded murder of a man who had done nothing but try to be helpful to a stranger,” said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “It is our hope that this sentence will bring the Yorker family closure.”
The victim's wife and mother spoke about Yorker in court on Monday, recalling fond memories of him and describing the void his death created in their lives.
“Don was a wonderful, kind and thoughtful person whose life was cut short," the victim's wife, Theresa Yorker, said . “I am devastated, and each day is a struggle to keep going.”
In court, Craig said he never wanted to hurt anyone but declined to say anything else because he plans to appeal the conviction.
The first trial against Craig for these charges ended in a mistrial after a 2023 jury couldn't come to a unanimous verdict.
