Woman re-sentenced in Putnam County murder Morgan Leppert given life with parole for crime committed when she was 15
Morgan Leppert
PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – A woman accused in the brutal murder of a Putnam County man in 2009 was re-sentenced this week to life with parole.
Morgan Leppert, the self-described "blue-eyed devil," had been sentenced to life without parole in the murder of 66-year-old James Stewart.
She was 15 at the time, and she and her boyfriend, Toby Lowry, killed the disabled man and stole his car.
Lowry pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty.
Leppert was tried and convicted, but under the U.S. Supreme Court's decision that teens under the age of 18 cannot be sentenced to life without parole she was eligible for a re-sentencing hearing.
The judge gave her life with parole chances. Her case will be reviewed in 25 years.
Copyright 2016 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
Community steps up to help after food truck owner's trailer stolen on Christmas morning ▶ 0:27
Community steps up to help after food truck owner's trailer stolen on Christmas morning
Man dies in Christmas Eve shooting outside business near St. Augustine Road: JSO ▶ 0:43
Man dies in Christmas Eve shooting outside business near St. Augustine Road: JSO
Jacksonville family moves into home donated by church after losing everything in apartment fire ▶ 1:12
Jacksonville family moves into home donated by church after losing everything in apartment fire
Watch Katie's hilarious fail at re-gifting gift cards on The Morning Show ▶ 0:58
Watch Katie's hilarious fail at re-gifting gift cards on The Morning Show
Defense team in Jared Bridegan murder case wants ‘crucial’ witness to answer written questions ▶ 0:57
Defense team in Jared Bridegan murder case wants ‘crucial’ witness to answer written questions
Sinkhole on apartment property leaves Westside residents without water since Friday ▶ 1:52
Sinkhole on apartment property leaves Westside residents without water since Friday
Jacksonville street racers will have new option with groundbreaking of Callahan drag strip ▶ 0:59
Jacksonville street racers will have new option with groundbreaking of Callahan drag strip
Jacksonville private school faces setback after $200K in technology stolen ▶ 1:07
Jacksonville private school faces setback after $200K in technology stolen
Jags fans snatching up merchandise as team rides wave of success ▶ 0:54
Jags fans snatching up merchandise as team rides wave of success
News4JAX is tracking Santa on Christmas Eve 🎅 Tune in and show the kids! ▶ 0:45
News4JAX is tracking Santa on Christmas Eve 🎅 Tune in and show the kids!
Workers strike outside San Marco area Starbucks ▶ 0:30
Workers strike outside San Marco area Starbucks
Schools from across Jacksonville join parade to celebrate Raines High's state title ▶ 0:44
Schools from across Jacksonville join parade to celebrate Raines High's state title
Community celebrates Raines High's state title with championship parade ▶ 0:44
Community celebrates Raines High's state title with championship parade
Tiny 'Vette driver steals hearts during Raines championship parade ▶ 0:38
Tiny 'Vette driver steals hearts during Raines championship parade
Jacksonville man who lost home in fire moved to tears after Christmas deliver from News4JAX ▶ 0:20
Jacksonville man who lost home in fire moved to tears after Christmas deliver from News4JAX
Richard's Swing Makeover Pt. 17 ▶ 1:15
Richard's Swing Makeover Pt. 17
Color the Weather: Clayton’s Forecast ☀️📚 ▶ 1:14
Color the Weather: Clayton’s Forecast ☀️📚
Man arrested in connection with 'road rage' shooting ▶ 0:43
Man arrested in connection with 'road rage' shooting
Neighbor describes scene of deadly double shooting in Orange Park ▶ 0:17
Neighbor describes scene of deadly double shooting in Orange Park
Voices of the 904 Ep. 8 - Her spin on placemaking calls people to fall back in love with downtown ▶ 0:30
Voices of the 904 Ep. 8 - Her spin on placemaking calls people to fall back in love with downtown
Prime-time energy for a heavyweight matchup against Denver ▶ 1:13
Prime-time energy for a heavyweight matchup against Denver
Richard's Swing Makeover pt. 16 ▶ 1:41
Richard's Swing Makeover pt. 16
Local advocacy groups deliver 'coal for Christmas' to JEA ▶ 0:47
Local advocacy groups deliver 'coal for Christmas' to JEA
Richard makes Brunswick Stew ▶ 4:20
Richard makes Brunswick Stew
Warming up after the cold snap ▶ 1:26
Warming up after the cold snap
Previous photo Next photo