Polk County teen sentenced to 30 years in prison for murdering sister

Levi Elliott, the Polk County teenager who was found guilty of fatally shooting his 12-year-old sister, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Wednesday.

Elliott, 17, received a 20-year sentence for second-degree murder, a 5-year sentence for armed criminal action and a 5-year sentence for tampering with a motor vehicle. The sentences will run consecutively.

Elliott was convicted by a jury in October of shooting his sister Sierra in the head on March 24, 2012, in rural Polk County and then fleeing the scene. He was 15 years old at the time of the shooting but brought to trial as an adult.

Wednesday’s sentences were handed down by Polk County Circuit Judge Michael Hendrickson.

Kenneth Ashlock, Polk County prosecuting attorney, said Elliott must serve 20 years of the sentence before he will be eligible for parole.

The girl's mother — who is not Levi Elliott's biological mother — reported the incident to police, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said. Peggy Elliott said Sierra and Levi Elliott were alone at the home for about 30 minutes. When the mother arrived home, she found Sierra injured, but the brother and a 2005 Ford pickup truck were gone.

Peggy Elliott, Sierra's mother, has testified that although Sierra was unable to speak after the shooting, she was able to answer questions about whether Levi shot her by raising one of her hands to indicate a "yes" answer.

Levi Elliott allegedly operated his father's truck without consent and without a proper license. Polk County Sheriff Steve Bruce has said Levi Elliott turned himself in to authorities in Kansas City, where his biological mother lives, a day after the shooting.

Elliott was found guilty in October of the Class A felony of second-degree murder, felony armed criminal action and felony tampering with a motor vehicle.

The murder charge carried a sentence range of not less than 10 years and not to exceed 30 years, or life imprisonment. Armed criminal action has a sentence range of not less than three years, with no maximum. The tampering charge carries a sentence range of not less than two years and not to exceed seven years.