Detroit hit man who admitted murdering 8 people is sentenced to 52 years in prison
By Ed White, APFriday, July 23, 2010
Detroit hit man sentenced to 52 years in prison
DETROIT — A judge has sentenced a Detroit hit man who admitted killing eight people to 52 years in prison.
The 52-year minimum sentence was part of a deal struck in June when Vincent Smothers pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
He avoided a mandatory life sentence, but he won’t be eligible for parole until he’s about 80.
Wayne County Judge Craig Strong read from a pre-sentence report Friday in which Smothers said he had killed more than eight people, but couldn’t recall their names.
Smothers told police he was paid $60,000 for a series of killings. His last victim was Rose Cobb, the wife of a Detroit police officer, in 2007.
People who were related to two victims spoke before Smothers got his punishment.
