Peoria Man Guilty Of Murder In Lottery Winner Kidnapping, Death

PEORIA — A South Peoria man pleaded guilty to murder and kidnapping charges Tuesday in the December 2016 death and kidnapping of a 41-year-old man that began at the victim's West Raab Road home in Normal. The Pantagraph said 30-year-old Danny Smith Jr. was charged with murder in the death of Maunds Bryant, and the kidnapping of Bryant and his stepfather Ray Magsby, during which Smith demanded the family pay a ransom from lottery winnings, according to Normal Police.

According to the news report, Smith is eligible for a term of 20 to 60 years in prison when he's sentenced Nov. 20. Other charges stemming from the Dec. 22 incident included home invasion, residential burglary, aggravated vehicular hijacking and armed robbery, and were dismissed in the plea agreement.

According to police, Smith had known the Magsbys recently won a state lottery prize, which The Pantagraph said court documents put the winnings at $420,000. The news report said according to police, Smith demanded $25,000 ransom from Bryant's mother after forcing his way into the family's home, ordering the woman to get the money from the bank and call him on a cellphone he gave her.

According to Journal Star, police said Magsby was able to escape the basement of a Peoria home Smith brought them to and call police, who rescued Bryant. The news report said Bryant had ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), and suffered a serious head injury during a fall at the home before he died on Christmas Day 2016. Smith was arrested shortly after.

Image via Shutterstock