In SYRACUSE, N.Y., the man who fatally stabbed his mother at their Village Green apartment in 2022 was handed the harshest sentence in court on Monday. Daniel Chilson, arrested the day after his mother Leora was discovered deceased by her daughter on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, was charged with murder in the second degree and tampering with physical evidence. Despite pleading not guilty in January 2023, Chilson was found guilty by a jury on June 13, marking a conviction of murder in the second degree. Consequently, on Monday in court, Judge Gordon Cuffy sentenced Chilson to the maximum 25 years to life in prison.
Judge Cuffy acknowledged the difficulty faced by Leora’s children in requesting the maximum sentence for their brother, as expressed in letters submitted to the court speaking against Chilson. Additionally, a statement from Leora’s brother, Chilson’s uncle, was read to the court by the Assistant District Attorney. The uncle denounced Chilson’s heinous actions and emphasized the deep impact his crime had on the family. Chilson’s siblings lost their cherished mother and confidant, who would no longer tolerate his harmful behavior. The family urged the judge to impose the maximum sentence without parole, not out of vengeance but out of a desire to protect society from a person who instilled fear in others.
The family’s plea highlighted the significant loss caused by Chilson’s actions and the enduring hardship his siblings face in overcoming the tragic event. Life for them will never be the same, but they draw strength to move forward, unlike their brother. Despite the devastating loss, Chilson’s family expressed their hope for a society free from the fear he propagated.