DeLong, Cypret each get 32 years for part in Pasco murder

Two more, of nine, defendants get plea deals from prosecutor for decades-long prison sentences
 
Two more defendants who were facing prosecution in the murder of Sarah Pasco pleaded guilty to reduced charges on Thursday, March 10. Andrew Cypret, 29, and Lyle B. Delong, 24, each entered pleas of guilty to one count of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree kidnapping. Both men were each sentenced to 32 years in prison, 27 years on the murder charge and five years for the kidnapping charge.

Other charges dropped
Because of the plea bargains, additional charges against the men were dropped. Cypret was facing 10 other felony counts, including: one count of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree assault, two counts of first-degree robbery, one count of evidence tampering, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and four counts of armed criminal action. Delong was facing eight other felony counts, including: one count of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree assault, one count of first-degree robbery, one count of evidence tampering and four counts of armed criminal action.

Background of the case
Cypret and Delong were sentenced for their roles in the murder of Sarah Pasco, who was killed by their co-defendant, Gary Hunter, Jr. on Aug. 16, 2020 west of Miller. Cypret held a gun on two women, one of them Pasco, for Hunter while the women dug their own graves. Delong and co-defendant Diona Parks, drove a truck to the spot where the women were taken; they later drove the truck away from the scene and burned it.

Other defendants have already pleaded out, been sentenced
Delong and Cypret are the two latest defendants to plead guilty in the murder of Pasco. Hunter pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping and was sentenced to 40 years in prison, while Parks made an Alford plea to charges of murder and kidnapping and was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Kimberly Henderson pleaded guilty to a single count of first-degree robbery and was sentenced to 25 years. Christina Knapp pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and kidnapping and was sentenced to a total of 25 years, and Frank Sheridan was released after he pleaded guilty to kidnapping and received a suspended execution of a 15-year prison sentence and five years of supervised probation. Co-defendants Sierra Dunham and Steven Calverley still face charges and remain in custody at the Lawrence County Jail.
As of press time, Delong remained in custody at the Lawrence County Jail, pending his transfer to the Missouri Department of Corrections. Cypret is already in custody at the Jefferson City Correctional Center, where he was already serving a three-year sentence for third-degree assault and hindering prosecution of a felony.