Yesterday (Sept 18) Stephen WARRINGTON (27) was sentenced to 35 years in prison followed by 30 years of probation by Judge Robin Lemonidis for the Murder of Jillian Kusznir (22) in April of 2016.

WARRINGTON had been arrested on April 21, 2016, after the deceased body of Kusznir was found in the trunk of her car on April 19 by Palm Bay Police. The Medical Examiner established Kusznir had been repeatedly stabbed in her neck and back, causing her death.

WARRINGTON was identified as a suspect as he was known to Kusznir and was tied to the murder by phone records and security videos showing him exiting the car containing her body. A Grand Jury indicted WARRINGTON for the murder on May 14, 2016.

After a nine day trial and deliberation, WARRINGTON was convicted April 18, 2019, by a Brevard County Jury of Second Degree Murder (F1 PBL) and Petit Theft (M2).

During yesterday's hearing, the State sought a life sentence for WARRINGTON, however the defense argued for 20 years in prison, followed by 25 years of probation. Judge Lemonidis refused to downward depart before issuing her ruling of 35 years in state prison, followed by 30 years of supervised drug offender probation.

WARRINGTON will be transferred from the Brevard County Jail to the Florida Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.