WILLMAR –– Sentencing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday for Brok Junkermeier, who pleaded guilty last week to first-degree premeditated murder in the slaying of Lila Warwick, a 79-year old grandmother and church volunteer from Willmar.
Junkermeier, 19, is expected to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
He has been in the Kandiyohi County Jail since he was arrested in July, two days after Warwick was found dead in the basement of her home on the east edge of Willmar.
A jury trial was underway last week in the Kandiyohi County Courthouse before proceedings were stopped when Junkermeier surprised the court by pleading guilty to the most serious charge.
A second charge of first-degree murder without premeditation, which would’ve included the possibility of parole after 30 years in prison, was dismissed.
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At the hearing tomorrow, Judge Donald Spilseth will hear victim impact statements from Warwick’s family.
Warwick’s grandson, Robert Warwick, 18, is also charged with two counts of first degree murder for allegedly planning the death of his grandmother.
Robert Warwick’s next court hearing is April 23 and his trial dates have not been set.
The third teen charged in the case, Devon Jenkins, 16, of Willmar, pleaded guilty in December to aiding and abetting second-degree murder.
