Teen Convicted in Killing Couple Sentenced
A teen who murdered a Fort Carson soldier and his pregnant wife will more than likely never leave prison alive.
A judge sentenced Macyo January to back-to-back life sentences, with the possibility of parole after 40 years for each victim. So added together, January would be 98 years old before he could possibly be up for parole.
David Dunlap and Whitney Butler should be celebrating one year of marriage. Instead, their family is left to console themselves with the maximum sentence for the man who killed him.
“Justice is served in as much as it can be with the way the system works,” said Christian Butler, Whitney’s brother.
Prosecutors called it one of the most difficult cases of their career. They too felt justice was served under the circumstances.
“Had he been 18, he would have gotten life without parole, no question, as a minimum,” said Jeff Lindsey, Chief Deputy District Attorney.
As the sentence stands, it appears it will end up being a life sentence for January…but a life the family says they will no longer think about.
“As far as I’m concerned right now Macyo January no longer exists. All I have left in my heart is my love for my son, for Whitney and for the baby,” Marilyn Dunlap, David’s mother, said.
January didn’t face any additional punishment because Whitney Butler was pregnant. Her family said that part of the law needs to change, and would if Colorado voters pass Amendment 67.
“A huge chunk of future, a limb off our family tree, is gone now. I’m glad to hear that the laws may be changing and maybe this has brought that matter to the fore a little bit more,” Marie Butler said.
But no sentence will bring back what January stole which is why the family says they will be focusing on living their own lives.
“Make as much contrast as we can between our lives and Macyo’s. He gets to live in prison and we get to live a free and happy life and I think it’s our duty to take advantage of that as best we can,” Christian said.
