Syracuse, N.Y. — A 26-year-old Syracuse man who was kidnapped and tortured over several days spoke publicly for the first time about the trauma he suffered at the hands of two women.
“I forgive you, but God won’t,” Koddie Beechner said Friday in court as he read a letter to the people who hurt him.
Jessica Hughes, 36, and Renee Dolson, 40, were sentenced for their roles in the kidnapping and torture of Beechner.
Hughes and Dolson pleaded guilty in October to first-degree assault in exchange for eight years in prison.
Both women admitted to participating in the brutal assault that left Beechner with several facial injuries, a collapsed lung, bone fractures and wounds from being shot repeatedly with a pellet gun. He still has pellets lodged in his body.
In court, Beechner said his experience has made him a stronger person, but he sees both women as a danger to society and does not think they should ever be released from prison.
Hughes and Dolson are two of the seven people charged in connection with the crime. Six were charged with first-degree kidnapping and first-degree assault. Another man was charged with the assault.
The group was accused of kidnapping Beechner and restraining him in a home at 304 Merriman Ave. and assaulting him between April 21 and 24.
RELATED: Group kidnaps Syracuse man and tortures him for days as he begged for his life, prosecutor says
The alleged motive of the kidnapping was the belief the victim stole a laptop, sources told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. Prosecutors later revealed the group also tried to steal the man’s Social Security disability payments.
Prosecutor Alphonse Williams said that this is one of the most heinous and sadistic crimes that he has prosecuted. He said that he hopes that the women can take solace in the fact they were “granted a bit of mercy” in the eight years that they will be serving. Both women were facing potential life sentences.
Renee Dolson (left) and Jessica Hughes (right) appear with their attorneys for sentencing on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.Anne Hayes | Ahayes@syracuse.com
Despite receiving the same offer, Hughes and Dolson played different roles in the crime, Williams has said.
In a previous court appearance, Hughes’ attorney, Wordy Samson, said Hughes tried to help the victim. Williams confirmed in court Friday that Hughes tried to nurse the victim back to health.
Dolson’s attorney, Patrick Hennessy, said evidence showed Hughes was aiding the victim only to ensure the beatings could continue.
Williams also said Hughes threatened the victim and told him that they were going to chop his body up and he was going to go missing.
Dolson was accused of actively assaulting the victim. Williams said the woman is seen in videos of the abuse punching the victim multiple times.
Today, both women expressed remorse. Dolson apologized to Beechner in court for the suffering he endured.
Videos of the incident were pulled from Tashawn Adams’s phone. Adams, 21, is accused of acting as the main aggressor and has not pleaded guilty. In a court appearance last week, Judge Gordon Cuffy ordered Adams to undergo a mental competency exam to see if he can stand trial.
Cuffy said Beechner has said the abuse has had a lasting impact on him psychologically.
“This almost destroyed this young man’s life,” Cuffy said.
Hunter Armstrong, 20, was also set to be sentenced Friday. But the judge adjourned the case, explaining Armstrong wrote a letter to the court saying his plea was coerced and there was a conspiracy against him. Armstrong is the victim’s step-brother, according to court documents.
Armstrong — one of the first people to be identified by the victim — pleaded guilty to first-degree kidnapping after Cuffy offered a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
Armstrong also faces new charges for witness tampering. He is accused of sending a letter to the victim’s relative asking them to have Hughes dealt with because he believed she would testify for the prosecution. Friday, Williams said Armstrong’s fingerprints were found on the letters.
“You know what needs to be done so get it done please get that b*tch dealt with so she can’t take the stand on me,” Armstrong is accused of writing in the letter about Hughes. She is not required to testify against anyone charged in the case as part of her plea agreement.
Three of the other seven codefendants — Adams, Rita Duckworth and Rahim Williams — have not pleaded guilty.
Adams, Duckworth and Williams still face:
- Two counts of first-degree kidnapping
- Two counts of first-degree assault
- First-degree robbery
The seventh co-defendant, Quincy Williams, is named in two charges of the five-count indictment. He is charged with one count of first-degree assault and first-degree robbery.
A Syracuse man was forced into 304 Merriman Ave. at knifepoint before he was restrained and tortured in the unfamiliar home for days, police said. Fernando Alba | FAlba@syracuse.com
Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com.