Lorain men get life in prison for 2018 slaying of Linda Wisniewski

ELYRIA — Lorenzo Garcia and Antonio Martinez, both of Lorain, will spend the rest of their lives behind bars but will avoid the possibility of the death penalty for the brutal 2018 killing of Linda Wisniewski, 67, at her Amherst Avenue residence. The men agreed to withdraw their not guilty pleas in the case and plead guilty with the understanding they would be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Specifications that made the defendants eligible for capital punishment were dismissed as part of the plea agreement. Martinez, 28, withdrew his not guilty pleas and pleaded guilty last week to numerous charges including aggravated murder. He then was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole by Judge James Miraldi. Garcia, 34, did the same Tuesday in Miraldi's courtroom, withdrawing not guilty pleas and pleading guilty on a long list of charges between three different cases. In addition to the aggravated murder case, he also was facing drug possession and rape charges. The victim in the rape case did not wish to make a statement in court but Assistant Lorain County Prosecutor Laura Dezort said the individual is glad the matter is resolved. The drug possession charge came after Garcia reportedly was caught with drugs in jail. Wisniewski was found dead by Lorain police while responding to a "burglary in progress" call at her residence in March 2018. Another man, Kenneth Williams, was seriously injured in the burglary. Williams, then 28, previously was described by relatives as a close family friend of Wisniewski. In a story published in The Chronicle-Telegram shortly after the murder, Wisniewski was remembered as someone who "had no enemies whatsoever, and she was the most caring person ever" by Candie Casner, whose father was Wisniewski's fiancé. At that time, Casner said Wisniewski was born and raised in Lorain, but lived in West Virginia for a while and eventually returned to Lorain. Garcia showed little visible emotion in court Tuesday, occasionally swiveling in his chair and at one point rolling up a packet of papers like a telescope. Given the opportunity to make a statement prior to the reading of his sentence, Garcia declined. According to a statement to The Chronicle-Telegram from then-Lorain County Coroner Dr. Stephen Evans in 2018, Wisniewski's cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, and she also suffered multiple stab wounds to the head, trunk and extremities. Contact Dylan Reynolds at (440) 329-7123 or dreynolds@chroniclet.com. Follow him on Twitter @drey1357.