Robert Kirby sat through a mistrial. He witnessed a hung jury.
And then, at 12:37 a.m. Friday, the jury announced the conclusion that he’s known all along: Steven Lindsey was guilty of murder for killing his wife, Melinda Kirby Lindsey, Robert Kirby’s daughter.
“We just couldn’t believe it. We were just numb, to be honest. I mean, we’re still numb,” Kirby said late Friday afternoon. “We’ve known from the start who did it. There’s a sense of relief but it won’t bring our daughter back.”
Porter Superior Court Judge William Alexa has set April 8 for sentencing; Lindsey faces 45 to 65 years in prison, though Kirby said no matter what his sentence is, it will never be enough.
“He needs the death penalty, period. When you execute someone in her sleep…” Kirby said, his voice trailing off.
Preparing for three trials was like the movie “Groundhog Day,” Kirby said, because the same things happened over and over again.
“It’s just hard to say but finally there’s a jury with common sense and they can see right through everything,” he said.
He’s not surprised Larry Rogers, Steven Lindsey’s attorney, will appeal the guilty verdict. Kirby also is ready to continue seeing his daughter’s killer brought to justice.
“It’s going to be a fight but we’re going to win the war,” he said.
Kirby, 51, who lives in Rossville, Ill., said he and Melinda, 23, were “very close” when she was growing up, going fishing or shooting together. He described her as “such an awesome person,” someone who lit up a room.
Other than their age difference – Steven Lindsey was 12 years older than his wife – Kirby said he didn’t have a problem with him, “but I don’t know what goes through people’s minds. You can’t figure out a killer. It’s all about them, I guess.”
Melinda’s daughter, Ellie Mae, is now 3 years old. She was at her parents’ Center Township home when her father shot and killed her mother on Jan. 16 last year.
“She is really the spitting image of her mother. She’s just a beautiful grandchild,” Kirby said.
He credited the Porter County Prosecutor’s Office, the detectives with the Porter County Sheriff’s Department, Alexa, and the court’s victim assistance program for their work and support since Melinda’s death. “You’ve never met nicer people in your life,” he said.
With a sentencing and an appeal ahead, Kirby expects to be in touch with them in the coming months.
“It’s been a long road and a long road to go, but I do appreciate everything,” he said.
Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
