DETROIT, MI -- Theodore "Ted" Wafer, a 55-year-old Dearborn Heights man whom a jury found guilty of second-degree murder Aug. 7 for the porch-killing of 19-year-old Renisha McBride of Detroit, has been sentenced to between 17 and 32 years in prison.

Wafer is accused of shooting McBride when she appeared on his front porch last November. It was about 4:40 a.m. in the morning. McBride, whom the medical examiner said had a .21 blood-alcohol level and marijuana in her system, struck a parked car and fled the scene blocks away nearly four hours earlier.

Wafer said McBride pounded violently on his front and side doors, he feared it was multiple home invaders outside attempting to enter and potentially kill him.

Wafer, armed with a shotgun, unlocked his front door, opened it and shot McBride through the locked screen door when she appeared feet away.

His attorney, Cheryl Carpenter, argued self defense.

"I apologize from the bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry for your loss and I can only hope and pray that somehow you can forgive me," said Wafer, his voice wavering, as he faced presiding Judge Dana M. Hathaway's bench and made his statement at sentencing Wednesday. "My family and friends also grieve. From my fear, I caused the loss of a life that was too young to leave this world and for that I'll carry that guilt and sorrow forever.

"I only wish that I could take this horrible tragedy back and I'm asking the court, your honor, for mercy."

Hathawaw called it "one of the saddest cases" she's ever heard.

"A young woman's life is gone and otherwise a law-abiding citizen's life is gone," said Hathaway. "Although the evidence clearly shows in this case that Ms. McBride made some terrible choices that night, none of them justified taking her life.



"I believe you acted out of some fear, but mainly anger and panic ... When (Renisha) McBride needed help, she met her death."

Hathaway said someone pounding on your door at 4:30 a.m. "rarely" creates a "honest and reasonable situation that justifies taking another person's life."

Wafer was convicted of second-degree murder, meaning the jury believed Wafer intentionally killed McBride or intentionally inflicted great bodily harm resulting in her death; and manslaughter for aiming a firearm at a person resulting in death.

He received a minimum 15 years for second-degree murder charge which made his manslaughter punishment, 7 to 15 years, moot. Additionally, Wafer will serve two years for felony use of a firearm.

Wafer claimed during trial he never meant to kill McBride and he and didn't know the shotgun was loaded.

Carpenter, who became emotional for a few minutes while arguing why the judge should divert from the sentencing guidelines, said the full minimum sentence is a veritable life sentence for Wafer, who would be 72 in 17 years.

"I really do care about this man and feel I let him down," said Carpenter. "I really hope you don't, your honor."

Numerous members of McBride's family were in the courtroom Wednesday, including Diane Pearson, a 66-year-old grand-aunt of McBride's from Olympia Fields, Ill., who said, "I'd like to have had 17 more years."

McBride's father, Walter Simmons, told the court during his statement he'll never have the opportunity to watch his daughter "grow up, be a woman, have kids."

He then proceeded to read a letter from his youngest daughter.

"I don't see anything wrong with a life for a life," said Jasmine McBride, 23, Renisha McBride's sister. "She may not be here physically, but she is going to be here mentally and physically forever."