Daya blog

NY man admits killing daughter, 9, and baby sitter

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – A man admitted in court Wednesday that he fatally shot his 9-year-old daughter and her baby sitter — after telling the girl's mother over the phone what he was about to do.

Darrell Evans, 51, of Mount Vernon, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder in exchange for a sentence of 40 years to life in prison, District Attorney Janet DiFiore said.

The killings occurred a year ago on a tree-lined street of private homes in Mount Vernon, a New York City suburb, where Evans lived with the girl and her mother, Joan Whitfield. The city's mayor lived a few houses away.

On Jan. 9, 2010, Evans called Whitfield while she was at work at a hospital in the city, prosecutors said. They argued, and Evans told Whitfield he was going to kill their daughter, Ayanna Evans, and her baby sitter, 42-year-old Lorna Williams, the district attorney said.

A worried Whitfield called Mount Vernon police, who went to the home. As they approached, Evans emerged from the house and surrendered, saying he had shot "everyone," the district attorney said.

Inside, police found Ayanna dying in her bed. She had been shot several times in the chest. Williams was in another bedroom, dead of a shot to the head.

Police found a handgun near the front door. Tests showed it was the murder weapon, DiFiore said.

Evans had been charged with first-degree murder, which could have meant a sentence of life without parole if he were convicted at trial. Under his plea bargain in Westchester County Court, he would get two consecutive sentences of 20 years to life.

Sentencing was scheduled for March 11.