Elwood man gets 75 years in toddler's murder

JOLIET – An Elwood man who killed an 18-month-old girl could get out of prison if he lives to be 99 years old.

Lee K. Ponshe, 32, was initially sentenced to life in prison for the 2009 murder of Halli R. Burton, but the law requiring a mandatory life term because of the victim's age was declared unconstitutional last year.

So Judge Daniel Rozak on Tuesday sentenced Ponshe to 75 years behind bars. Ponshe did not make any statement during his court appearance.

Halli's mother, Jessi Dunlap, was living in downstate White Hall when she met Ponshe online. The then-24-year-old woman and her daughter moved into his house in the 500 block of Beattie Street on April 13, 2009.

Two days later, the girl woke up crying and Ponshe beat her to death, according to investigators. He initially told police he hadn't touched her, but later admitted he hit her twice in the head, prosecutors said