SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
Sioux City man, James Kroll, Jr. started
serving his almost 80-year sentence, Thursday. The 23-year-old was accused of
breaking into a Sioux City
home, killing Jeffery Moravek, 54, and severely injuring Mary Tope, 54, with a
crowbar back in June.
Kroll faced life in
prison for first-degree murder, attempted murder, and burglary. But last month,
pleaded guilty to lesser charges. The deal gave him a 75-year sentence, for
second-degree murder and attempted murder.
In court, Kroll said the
night of the murder he was trying to see his ex-girlfriend Emily Tope once more
before committing suicide. He said he was off his anti-depressants and high on K2.
"I had a feeling
Jeff and Mary would stop me. I only wanted to put them unconscious, and talk to
Emily, and commit suicide. I never wanted anyone to die but me," said
Kroll.
Kroll said he's deeply,
and truly sorry for what he's done. But those words may have been lost on
Moravek's daughters. They say their father's death left their lives in
shambles.
"Personally, I feel
very shattered by your actions. I'm not even a shadow of the person I was
before this happened," said Allison Moravek.
Moravek's other
daughter, Ashley, said she and her father were in the middle of mending a rough
relationship. She says things were getting better right before he was killed.
"More than anything
I wanted self-love for my dad. I didn't get to witness that. But, oh, he was
getting there," said Ashley Moravek.
Kroll will be ordered to
pay restitution to the victims. He will have to serve 70% of his sentence
before he's eligible for parole. That's about 52.5 years, time Kroll says he'll
use to make himself a better person.
"I
plan to write a book, get my GED, take college courses, and attend church, and
overall, be the best and nicest person my family knows I am," said Kroll.
© "I had a feeling Jeff and Mary would stop me. I only wanted to put them unconscious, and talk to Emily, and commit suicide. I never wanted anyone to die but me," said Kroll.
