Rebecca Wood

Rebecca "Beca" S. Wood (b. 8 November 1983; d. 13 July 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) was an American white woman and loving mother of two (daughter and son) who was murdered, then robbed by violent black thugs.

Bloody deed

Bradley's uncle, convicted felon Carlando Mukes, provided him a gun, telling him and two other men to go rob someone, according to court records. 19-year-old Jeremiah Flowers initiated the brutal that led to 32-year-old Rebecca Wood's death on 13 July 2016 at 12:30 p.m. Flowers pointed at a white car at a stop sign at N. 28th and W. Clarke streets, suggesting the female driver could have "some cheese," or money, the criminal complaint says. Bradley took the gun and stuck it through the open driver's window, 5 inches from Wood's head, and shot the blonde, blue-eyed woman, who tried to drive away. An autopsy later revealed she suffered two gunshot wounds – one to the back and one to the chest – wounds caused by one bullet, according to police. After the cold-hearted, horrific crime, one of the black criminals snatched the purse belonging to the mother of two, only to get away with $20.

Bradley gave a statement to police. On the date of the incident, he was at a girl’s house along with his friends, William Bounds and Jeremiah Flowers, and his uncle, Carlando Mukes. Bradley told police that about thirty to forty-five minutes before the shooting, Mukes had given him a gun, and he was being pressured by Mukes and the others to commit a robbery. When the victim’s vehicle pulled up nearby, Flowers identified it as a possible target. Bradley approached the driver’s window with Bounds as back up while Flowers approached the passenger window. [...] The victim crashed the car, after which Bounds approached the vehicle and took her purse. He rifled through it and took a twenty-dollar bill. Flowers also told police he watched Bounds take the purse. Bounds told police he put the purse down on the ground after a woman yelled at him for taking it. Bradley, Bounds, Flowers, and Mukes were charged as co-defendants.

Her car crashed into a nearby tree. Bounds reached inside the vehicle and rifled through her purse, taking a $20 bill that he would use to buy cigarettes and marijuana, according to the complaint. Police found Rebecca Wood's purse, dropped by Bounds who had panicked, and another $20 bill near her body at the scene. A $10 bill was later found at the scene, with blood on it. The perpetrator told investigators he used the money to buy cigarettes and "two bags of weed." According to the complaint, after the fatal shooting, Bradley posted on Facebook that he had to “cut his fro and get low.”

Bradley's family claimed they thought the uncle "was watching out for the kids [sic!]" and his house became "the hangout spot," said Bradley's attorney, Christian Thomas. Shooter Bradley, hoping for a lesser sentence, "apologized" to Wood's family and his own family in court and said he prayed for absolution. Wood's family asked for the maximum sentence, which by law was 40 years in prison and 20 years of extended supervision. Bradley's attorney requested a prison sentence of 10 to 15 years.

As Gregory "Greg" Wood walked toward a table to address the Milwaukee County judge, everyone in the courtroom could read the back of his T-shirt: "My daughter was murdered for $20." As he described the lasting sorrow of losing his 32-year-old daughter, Rebecca Wood, a photo slideshow of her played silently on a screen in front of Deanthony Bradley, the man who pulled the trigger. "You have ripped out my heart and soul," Wood said. "In killing her, you have also killed me."

Judge Mark A. Sanders handed down a sentence of 30 years in prison followed by 15 years of extended supervision. He made it clear Bradley was receiving less time because he turned himself in, confessed and identified who else was involved. The brutally slain Rebecca Wood left behind two children, and an entire family heartbroken over the loss.

Burial

Memorial visitation took place on 21 July 2016 at Prasser-Kleczka Funeral Home, Bay View Chapel, 3275 South Howell Avenue, Milwaukee.

Perpetrators

• 1) Deanthony L. Bradley
  • Charge: First degree reckless homicide, use of a dangerous weapon, as party to a crime; Armed robbery with use of force, as party to a crime; Possession of a firearm – adjudicated delinquent of a felony
  • Plead: 21-year-old Deanthony Bradley in November 2016 pleaded guilty to one count of first degree reckless homicide, use of a dangerous weapon, as party to a crime. Two other charges were dismissed but read into the court record.
  • Sentence: He was sentenced to 30 years in prison, and 15 years extended supervision.
  • Appeal: Denied on 22 August 2019.

• 2) William J. Bounds
  • Charge: Armed robbery with use of force, as party to a crime, habitual criminality repeater
  • Plead: 27-year-old William Bounds in February pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery with use of force as party to a crime, habitual criminality repeater.
  • Sentence: He was sentenced to 17 years in prison and 10 years extended supervision.

• 3) Jeremiah A. Flowers
  • Charge: Armed robbery with use of force as party to a crime
  • Plead: 19-year-old Jeremiah Flowers on 1 June 2017 pleaded guilty to one count of theft of movable property from a person or corpse as party to a crime, penalties for felonies – Class "G" felony.
  • Sentence: The judge sentenced Flowers on 9 October 2017 to only four years in prison and five years extended supervision.

• 4) Carlando Anton Mukes
  • Charge: Possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony, habitual criminality repeater
  • Plead: 37-year-old Carlando Mukes on 8 June 2017 pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony, habitual criminality repeater, penalties for felonies – Class "G" felony.
  • Sentence: He was sentenced to only five years in prison and five years extended supervision.

Quotes

• "My daughter's life was brutally taken. She will never see her children grow up. She will never be with us, who love her. The punishments have not fit the crime or even come close. To say I'm angry is an understatement. My life has been totally destroyed forever. I will no longer find happiness. My punishment certainly outweighs theirs. Once again, I'm asking you to sentence these pieces of shit to the maximum allowed by law." – Greg Wood, Rebecca's father

• "You haven't just ruined (her) children's lives, her father's life, her friends ... you have ruined your family's lives, your own life." – Alicia Schanen, Wood's longtime friend

• "People don't want to drive through that area, through many parts of some areas in the city, because of things like this and the fear they feel. So the consequence of your actions, the ripples of it, extend out very broadly." – Judge Mark A. Sanders sentencing Bradley

• "I miss you sooo much. 3. Years have past and I everyday wish I just had more time. I could go on forever. All our good times and memories. I will always carry you with me in my heart and soul. Til I see you again. Rest easily and beautifully." – Sam Conroy, 3 July 2019