Stevie A. Linwood Jr., 44, was sentenced on April 10 to a mandatory natural life term in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the murders of his girlfriend, Zaneta S. Winters, and her neighbor, Jakaiden Rynearson.
The sentencing took place in a crowded Peoria courtroom and highlighted the impact of violent crime on families and communities. The case drew attention because both victims’ mothers addressed the court through letters describing their loss.
During the hearing, Winters’ mother described how Linwood’s actions affected their shared child: “She detailed meltdowns, panic attacks, constant crying, and frequent nightmares, emphasizing that Linwood not only took the child’s mother away but also removed himself from the child’s life.” Rynearson’s mother wrote about her daughter as “kind, considerate, and always willing to help others,” adding that her family now faces “a lifetime of nevers” instead of future milestones.
Assistant State’s Attorney Dave Gast said a natural life sentence was required by Illinois law due to multiple victims. Gast told the court: “The next time the defendant is taken out of prison, unshackled, will be in a pine box, and that is appropriate.”
Police responded to reports of two people shot on August 11 at N. El Vista in Peoria. According to testimony presented at trial, Winters was shot while fleeing for help after an argument with Linwood; Rynearson was shot three times when she tried to assist Winters and died months later from her injuries. Jurors saw video evidence where Linwood admitted shooting both women during police interviews.
The jury convicted Linwood after less than half an hour of deliberation.
In related news about Peoria County schools during the 2022-23 year: The average student-to-teacher ratio stood at 15-to-1 with more than 27,000 students enrolled according to state education data. Teacher absenteeism rates were recorded at 32.3%, slightly below Illinois’s average as reported by state records. Among local schools during this period: Dunlap High School had the highest white student enrollment (873), Richwoods High School led among multiracial students (182), Lincoln School had most Hispanic students (218), and Peoria High School enrolled most Black students (798) according to official statistics.
