Photos of Danielle and William Beyer are displayed in Outagamie County court Dec. 13, 2022, during the trial of their father, Matthew. PC: Fox 11 Online
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The jury convicted Matthew Beyer Tuesday of killing his two children, and the judge sentenced him to back-to-back life sentences with no chance of a parole moments later.
Beyer, 38, was convicted of two counts of first-degree intentional homicide for killing William, 5, and Danielle Beyer, 3. They were found dead in their Kaukauna home on Feb. 17, 2020.
The children’s mother called police on Feb. 17, 2020, to report their deaths. Beyer initially denied being at the scene but later admitted he was at the house — though he has denied killing the children. According to the autopsies, the children suffered multiple “sharp force” injuries.
Beyer’s defense team is blaming another man for the murders.
He did not testify at the trial, and did not address the court before the sentences were issued.
Each homicide count carries a mandatory life prison term, with the judge deciding if or when he would be eligible for parole. Sentencing began shortly after the verdict was reached Tuesday afternoon.
“I can’t understand, how or why you’d commit this offense. I struggle with that. And, I think your continued unwillingness to be honest, to be forthright, to be sensitive, to show remorse is really, really concerning.” said Judge Mark McGinnis during sentencing.
Beyer was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without chance of parole.
Beyer is already serving a five-year prison term for trying to escape from the jail after he was arrested.
Following the jury’s verdict, Kaukauna Mayor Tony Penterman released the following statement: “For just over 1,000 days, this black cloud has hung over our community. With the jury’s guilty verdict today, the sun can begin to shine again and as a community, we can begin to heal. And we can finally celebrate that justice has been served for Will and Dani.”
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