A Lake County judge sentenced a Gary, Indiana man to more than 103 years in prison Tuesday for fatally shooting his girlfriend and leaving her body in a car he set on fire.
A jury last month convicted 37-year-old Hugh Scott of murder and other charges in the June 2018 slaying of 39-year-old Davita Ward.
Judge Samuel Cappas sentenced him to 65 years for murder, 16 years for aggravated battery, 2.5 years for arson and 20 years for a habitual offender enhancement. It only took six hours for the jury to deliberate.
The Northwest Indiana Times reports Ward was “burned beyond recognition” when she was found. At one point in their relationship, not long before she was killed, Ward got a root canal and received a temporary tooth. At the second part of the procedure, she reportedly told her dentist that the tooth was knocked out when an “abusive boyfriend” punched her in the face.
Scott has denied his involvement in the crime.
“I am not that monster they are pointing me out to be,” Scott said.
Scott’s defense attorney, however, argued there was no physical evidence to connect him to the crime. According to the Northwest Indiana Times, Ward’s DNA was not found in his home. Investigators did not locate gasoline or other lighter fluids either.
Cappas said although the case was “circumstantial,” strong evidence pointed to Scott’s involvement, including the fact he was treated at Loyola for severe burns on his legs just after her death, the Post-Tribune reported.
At the time of her death, documents alleged Ward had been in a volatile and abusive relationship with Scott. At one point, she wrote in Facebook messages to Scott she was afraid of him and he was “crazy.”
After Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, Ward’s mother and stepfather, Davona and Simon Lillie, said they were grateful for justice nearly four years after her death.
Defense attorney Lemuel Stigler sought a 51-year sentence for Scott.
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