Murder victim's kids reflect on Reogas sentencing

FULL STORYFor nearly three years, the children of a Sandusky man who was fatally bludgeoned at his Wilbert Street home have lived their lives in limbo, waiting to learn the fate of their father's killer.But on Wednesday, after numerous trial delays and setbacks, John Debski's kids finally got a chance at closure.Tommy Reogas, 37, was sentenced Wednesday afternoon to 18 years in prison for Debski's July 2012 death."(Eighteen years) will never replace the life that was taken," Melissa Murphy, one of Debski's daughters, told the Register after the hearing.Reogas was arrested shortly after Debski's death, but in the years and months since, the case has faced countless delays. In September, Reogas finally accepted a special plea deal, agreeing to plead to charges of involuntary manslaughter and kidnapping without explicitly admitting his guilt.But Reogas and his attorney, Ronnie Wingate, tried to back-pedal on the plea, asking Erie County Common Pleas Court Judge Tygh Tone to throw out the deal —which Reogas had signed off on — and instead allow him to proceed to jury trial.At Wednesday's hearing, Reogas' mother told the court she had pressured her son into taking the plea. Tone, however, considered a myriad of factors and ultimately decided to deny the request and move forward with Reogas' sentencing.What followed was an emotional hearing in which Debski's children and their grandmother, Joyce Cole, asked for the maximum penalty. Debski's kids also told Reogas of the "Domino effect" his actions had on their world."It really did domino into our entire lives. And even three years later, its still continued to haunt (us)." Nothing is going to bring him back," Jhantasia Debski, 20, told Reogas in court.Not only did their father pass far too soon — the kids also lost their mother unexpectedly just weeks later."Three weeks after John passed away, my daughter (the kids' mother) passed away. So we've been on a rocky road this last two and a half years, and I'm glad we don't have to sit here anymore and listen to anybody talk about 'Poor little Tommy'," said Cole.She and her grandchildren were particularly disturbed by what Reogas told them during the hearing, as he maintained his innocence to the very end, despite evidence to the contrary."Don't allow yourselves to be sucked into a false sense of security that you've received justice for your father," Reogas said to them.The man then rambled on for about two minutes, echoing similar sentiments. "I'm not the one who killed your father," Reogas said."Just stop, OK?" Wingate whispered to his client.But Reogas continued: "I'm sorry for your loss," he told them. "And God bless you.""I can't believe... that whole time as he was talking, he just stared at my eyes. He looked right in my eyes," Jasmine Debski, 18 said after the hearing. "It was really cowardly. I just shook my head, like 'you're not going to get the best of me'.""I didn't listen," Cole said. "The last thing I heard him say was 'I am not the one who killed your father.' I turned him off right then, because I know that's not true."Said Debski's 14-year-old son, Jacob Debski: "How can you look at my sisters and say that? Look away. Look at the judge. Don't look at my sisters."But no matter the tumult in the courtroom Wednesday, Jacob, Jasmine, Jhantasia, and 24-year-old Melissa Murphy still shared fond memories of their father.Debski was a great man, a funny one, and a father who was there for his children, Melissa said. Jhantasia, meanwhile, reminisced about sick days from school, spent alongside her dad."He'd get me soup, pretzels and push-pops. We'd sit there and watch Looney Toons until everyone got home," Jhantasia said.Jacob said that since the age of 9, his father would take him along to his painting jobs, and let him help out.Jasmine, meanwhile, spoke of her role as a mat maid for her school's wrestling team — and Debski's reaction to her athleticism."My Dad was so proud of me. He always told me, 'You can wrestle, you're big and strong'." Jasmine said with a smile. "Then we'd punch each other in the arms."That proud father was torn away from his family on July 14, 2012."There's grandchildren that will never be held, there's weddings that will never be seen. (Jasmine) graduated high school with no parents. And nothing..will change that," Melissa said.Though the motivation behind the killing that day was at first unclear, Ohio Attorney General special prosecutor Paul Scarsella said Wednesday that, according to a witness, Reogas was seeking a gun he believed Debski possessed at the time, possibly so he could harm a woman he'd kidnapped a handful of days prior.A tussle over the weapon likely broke out, and Reogas then used a staple hammer to bludgeon Debski to death. And though details of their father's violent end will likely stay with his children forever, Melissa, Jhantasia, Jasmine and Jacob were at least satisfied they'd never again have to occupy the same room as his killer."I'm glad I don't have to see his face again," Jacob said.UPDATE 1:10 p.m.Judge Tygh Tone sentenced Reogas today to 18 years in prison on charges of involuntary manslaughter and kidnapping. Check back for comments from Debski's children on the decision. ORIGINAL STORYErie County Common Please Court Judge Tygh Tone this morning denied a request from an attorney representing Tommy Reogas asking for a new trial. Reogas entered a guilty plea to an involuntary manslaughter charge in September, but he wanted that plea agreement set aside.Tone refused to consider it and is preparing to sentence Reogas shortly in the 2012 killing of John Debski. Check back here for updatesRegister photo/LUKE WARK Tommy Reogas sits quietly next to his lawyer Ronnie Wingate as Judge Tygh Tone hands down his sentence Wednesday morning in the Erie County Common Pleas Court. Reogas was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the 2012 killing of John Debski. Register photo/LUKE WARK Tommy Reogas is escorted out of Judge Tygh Tone's courtroom at the Erie County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday after being sentenced to 18 years in prison for the 2012 killing of John Debski. Register photo/LUKE WARK Attorney Ronnie Wingate tries to get his client Tommy Reogas' former plea agreement thrown out in hopes of instead taking the case to trial on Wednesday morning before Erie County Common Pleas Court Judge Tygh Tone. Register photo/LUKE WARK Jasmine Debski, Melissa Murphy and Jhantasia Debski, daughters of John Debski, who was killed in 2012, react as his convicted killer Tommy Reogas speaks to them during his sentencing Wednesday morning at Erie County Common Pleas Court. Register photo/LUKE WARK Tommy Reogas' mother reacts as her son is sentenced for the 2012 killing of John Debski at Erie County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday morning. Register photo/LUKE WARK Family and friends of the late John Debski fill the pews of Erie County Common Pleas Court Judge Tygh Tone's courtroom Wednesday morning during the sentencing of Tommy Reogas, who is convicted of killing Debski in 2012.