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Murderer's sentence is life in prison, twice
By BETH LAMONTAGNE HALL
Union Leader Correspondent
6 hours, 24 minutes ago Share on Facebook
MANCHESTER – Hillsborough County Superior Court Judge Gillian Abramson this morning sentenced 36-year-old Todd Peters to two consecutive life sentences, without possibility of parole, in the bat beating murders of Edith Riley and Timothy King.
Peters showed no emotion and stared straight ahead throughout the sentencing hearing. The defense told the judge Peters still asserts his innocence.As the bailiffs led Peters past the victims’ families on the way out of the courtroom, he looked directly at them.
“I didn’t do this,” Peters said to the Riley and King families, who filled two rows in the courtroom.
One family member responded, “Yes, you did,” and Riley’s daughter, Rebbecca Lesperance, broke into sobs. Other women in the victims’ families, a few crying themselves, quickly embraced Lesperance and held her long after the judge left the courtroom.
Riley, 35, a mother of six, and King, 21, were beaten with a baseball bat while sleeping in their Valley Street apartment around 4 a.m. on Oct. 11, 2008. Lesperance, who was 12 at the time, told police she was awakened by her mother’s screams and had found the beaten and bloody couple in the living room. She told police a man she later identified as Peters was in the room when she entered. After he left, she called 911.
Riley and King had been living in the apartment with their two children and several of Riley’s children.
During the trial, the defense argued that Peters wasn’t even in Manchester the morning Riley and King were killed but was instead in Concord staying with an old friend. The defense also asserted that some of the witnesses lied to protect others in the tightly-knit Valley Street neighborhood.
But Lesperance denied these claims when she spoke at the sentencing this morning.
“No one could tell me I was wrong about that I saw you,” she said. “Once I saw you, I would never forget the face of death, the face of evil.”
King’s mother, Dixie King, also spoke, calling Peters an animal for what he did. He will spend the rest of his life in jail, King said, but she must live her life without her son.
“Your mother can tell you she loves you,” said King. “Because of you, I don’t have this pleasure anymore.”
Outside the courtroom, King said seeing Peters sentenced to two life sentences brought some resolution to the family.
“This is what we needed,” said King. “That’s justice for my son and Edith.”
Prosecutors said Peters went to the Valley Street apartment and fatally beat the couple because his son, Dominic, told him Timothy King had thrown a rock that hit him in the leg. Riley was found dead at the scene, but King was taken to a Boston Hospital. He had been beaten so badly that his family could only identify him by the rosary tattoo on his neck. King lingered on a respirator until Oct. 24, never regaining consciousness.
The jury convicted Peters of first-degree murder on Thursday after deliberating for 6 1/2 hours over two days. A first-degree murder conviction carries an automatic sentence of life in prison without parole, which is usually imposed immediately. Anderson, however, set sentencing on Friday morning to allow family members to speak.
For additional coverage of today's court proceedings, see Saturday's Manchester edition of the New Hampshire Union Leader. For prior coverage of the murders, click the links below.
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I went to school with Edith and she was a good friend, she didn't deserve any of this. I think what Todd is getting isn't enough, he deserves more and then some. I am glad that the family got Justice. I just hope that they can have peace, now that Todd will be spending his time in jail.
Rest in peace Edith and Tim
- Danny, Loudon
Glad this guy is going to prison for life, maybe some1 will teach him a lesson in there for what edith and tim had to go through. My prayers are with the riley family and the king family through this difficult time.
- James, manchester,nh
unfortunate for both sides!! Iam sure they had more evidence than just a description of todd from a sleepy child.
i think KSP is still around.
- Deano, Manchester
As much as I don't agree with Ronald's 10 years, I am equally distressed about the "what if it was one of your family members", "eye for an eye" and "put him to sleep comments". Let's remember our legal system is based on justice, not vengeance.
- TM, Bedford
All of you who feel sorry for this man should seriously have your heads checked. You all have no idea what its like not to have one last chance to see them. For their kids to have just one last moment with them. To watch the two little ones stare at their pictures and say i love you even though they will never hear it from the ones that cared for them most. Yes, the trials over and the conclusion had made me feel relieved for about a second and then i think of how it doesn't matter. He will never feel the pain and suffering my mother in law and her husband to be had to endure even though he deserves 100 times worse. Never will this void in our hearts close and no remorse will come for the man who took them away from us.
FOREVER MISSED AND LOVED<3
Mom & Tim
- Linda, londonderry,nh
Just here to say, my heart goes out to all the families.Second, union leader has no right talking about dominic as they have been. He doesnt need to think its his fault his dad killed 2 people because he told his dad, he was hit with a rock. Enough! Hes hurt also and feels badly for all! He does understand whats going on and reads the paper hello UL
- annmarie peters, manchester nh
disgusting
- kate m, kittery me
Best news I have heard in a long time. May Tim and Edith now rest in peace. My prayers are with Tim and Ediths families. Times are going to be tough for there families with the holidays here, I hope that this will begin a healing process.
- BS, MANCHESTER NH
Jeff... for starters I cannot believe you would even bring up the KSP... and I do not remember a "Jeff" in it either. But let's just say you were or associated with... will you tell me you are not/weren't violent? (BTW the KSP was mid to late 80's--early 90's was the "Bro's")
I grew up with Todd at a very young age and throughout life--kids fought back then... we all did--but not to the extent of seriously injuring someone. I seriously cannot see Todd actually killing someone... I just can't. Fighting and killing are two separate issues/actions.
There seems to be a couple of holes in the case and I will wait for the appeal to arrive and hopefully Todd gets a new defense attorney and then I will see what is what.
IF he did do this... I am not sure I could possibly get my head around all this.
- Brian, Manchester
I hope that Ronald is just trolling, because if not, I really have lost all hope for humanity.
- Sara, Manchester
Let him have his appeal and then put him to sleep...
I am tired of my tax money paying for these life sentences!
I remember my grandparents talking about public executions on the courthouse square and my parents talking about the "work gangs".
What an impression it made upon the community!
If you commited a crime, there were consequences!!!!
Oh to go back to the days of consequences....
- Scott, Manchester
Hey Ronald from Manchester - Todd Peters made a choice. The baseball bat didn't decide to kill these 2 people - Todd did.
As far as "everyone deserving a second chance at life" the murdered couple won't get one now will they?
- kate, exeter nh
Hey Ronald, I have a thought for you ,what if it was one of your family members. An eye for an eye is the way I was raised
- Adam, Newport
I think that this is a very harsh sentence given the facts. Everyone deserves a second chance in life. I am sure that he was driven by something that he couldn't control. I think that ten years in state prison would be appropriate with the promise that he will not do this again. Just a thought.
- ronald, manchester
A person like this deserves the death penalty.
So everyday, he still gets to breathe, eat ,watch TV....and mingle.
Thats a gift more then punishment. He deserves the electric chair.
- gwen king, pembroke nh
I guess Todd Peters never learned. He has been violent for a long time, dating back to when he was in the Kelly Street Posse back in the early 90's. It's a shame but he just couldn't learn.
- Jeff, Manchester