SULLIVAN, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — An Indianapolis man will serve 55 years in prison after pleading guilty to a 2019 Sullivan County murder. His longtime female companion will serve 20 years for conspiracy to commit murder.
Danny A. Wilson Jr. and Renee S. Huffines were staying with Patricia Dorsett in her Sullivan County home in May of 2019. Dorsett was later reported missing by family and friends. Her body was found in the back of a trailer on her property.
Wilson pleaded guilty earlier this month to murder. A judge Friday sentenced him to 55 years in prison. He will be transferred to a jail in another county while waiting to be placed in an Indiana Department of Corrections facility.
Dorsett’s daughters spoke during the sentencing. Her eldest daughter, Jessica Harding thanked the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police for helping to bring the family closure. She also thanked Wilson for pleading guilty.
“There is no rhyme or reason a lot of times for crime and this murder was no different,” said prosecuting attorney Ann Smith Mischler. “I think because of the strangeness of it, it was senseless. So they wanted an explanation. So the reason that the conspiracy plea was offered is because Renee actually cooperated and gave them details.”
Daughter Bernie Ratliff told Wilson she was “sad” he chose not to speak during the sentencing.
“My children know who killed their grandma,” she said.
Huffines pleaded guilty earlier this month to conspiracy to commit murder. She was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison.
“Eventually as the facts stacked up against them the truth came out and it was a culmination of that,” said Sullivan County Sheriff Clark Cottom. “So it’s not a happy day. It’s a time to reflect on Patricia’s life and what she meant to her family and her grand kids and many, many lives were ruined.”
