Man admits killing pregnant sister-in-law

BLOOMINGTON -- Family members said Wednesday they are not satisfied with a 50-year prison sentence given to the central Illinois man who pleaded guilty to murdering his pregnant sister-in-law last October.

"Fifty years for the lives of my daughter and granddaughter," said Sondra Zogg of Hallsville, the mother of victim Jodi McGrew, 19.

"Where is the justice?" said Zogg, who collapsed in tears outside the court before Wednesday's hearing for Jason Marksteiner, 21, of LeRoy.

Marksteiner pleaded guilty to beating and strangling McGrew in a relative's home in LeRoy, about 10 miles southeast of Bloomington. Prosecutors say he admitted to hitting her on the head 15 times with a rock in the same bedroom where his wife and three children slept.

Prosecutors agreed to dismiss seven other charges, including aggravated criminal sexual assault and intentional homicide of an unborn child, after Marksteiner pleaded guilty to one count of murder.

McGrew's family wanted Marksteiner to receive either the death penalty or life in prison, Zogg said.

The plea agreement limits Marksteiner's appeals, said McLean County Stateˆ’s Attorney Bill Yoder.

"Our goal was to obtain a sentence that reasonably ensured he will spend the rest of his life in prison and provides some finality to the victims," Yoder said.