Sentenced: 15-year-old Illahje Davis to spend 10 years in prison in death of Ronald Forbes

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A Milwaukee County judge sentenced Illahje Davis to 10 years in prison plus another six years of extended supervision.

The 15-year-old girl killed a man while joyriding in a stolen car.

Davis will be an adult when she is no longer incarcerated. When the crime happened, she was just 13.

Davis was convicted of first degree reckless homicide in the killing of 57-year-old Ronald Forbes.

Before she was sentenced on Wednesday, July 9th, Davis spoke in court.

“I know what happened was awful, but I’m very sorry. I think about this every day. It’s hard for me to go to sleep some nights. I pray about it and I just ask for forgiveness. Everything happens for a reason. I really don't know this reason," Davis said.

“The whole idea of this platitude that everything happens for a reason is a cop out," the judge said in court.

Prosecutors say on August 6th, 2012, when Davis was just 13, she and a group of friends stole six vehicles and attempted to steal others. Prosecutors suggested Davis was the ringleader.

At one point, prosecutors say Davis was speeding near 65th and Hampton -- and that's where she struck Forbes, who was riding his bike.

"I'm glad today it will be over with and I just pray that you make the best decision for my daughter," Davis' mother said in court.

A judge ruled Wednesday that Davis should be sentenced to a total period of 16 years -- 10 years in prison, and six years of extended supervision.

“Now that the judge says 16 years -- that’s incredible. I know personally I’m excited and I know everybody in the family is," Ian Gradian, a family friend of Ronald Forbes said.

As part of Davis' plea agreement, the prosecution had only recommended a 10-year sentence.

During her sentencing hearing, the judge revealed a booklet Davis has made for the Forbes family. The judge read a poem included in it -- and it was filled with remorse.

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