PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A man who pleaded guilty to the home invasion and rape of an older woman inside her East Mount Airy home nearly two years ago was sentenced Friday during an emotional hearing.
It was September 2022 when Zyree Downing broke into the 71-year-old’s home, demanding cash before beating and strangling her and taking her upstairs to rape her. He then stole her car to get away.
The woman spoke Friday of the terror she has felt, and can still feel, as his hands were wrapped around her neck as she pleaded for her life.
“She is not only thinking about how she is processing the trauma of that day, but she is also thinking about him,” said Prosecutor Tito Valdes with the District Attorney’s Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit, who handled the case.
Downing, now 24 years old, was tearful during the hearing. He told the survivor and her family he was very sorry and kept repeating that he didn’t know why he did it.
He said he was ready to take any sentence ahead of him.
Downing’s lawyer described him as a young man who had a great childhood but felt a lot of isolation and detachment throughout his life — he had drug dependency issues after being shot and was homeless for some time.
In December, he pleaded guilty to all charges.
Valdes asked that Downing spend at least three decades in prison.
Judge Stephanie Sawyer sentenced Downing to 14 to 28 years, saying she hopes the time helps both sides heal.