Man gets life sentence for murder

4/20/2005

A man convicted for the 1998 beating death of 17-year-old Paul Wiggins was sentenced yesterday to life in prison for the teenager's murder.

Walter Triplett, who was found guilty of aggravated murder and aggravated robbery for the Nov. 20, 1998 beating death of young Wiggins, maintained his innocence before he was sentenced in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

"I am not capable of this. This is not how I support my addiction," Triplett, 51, said.

Judge Thomas Osowik imposed the maximum 10-year sentence for aggravated robbery and ordered it consecutive to the mandatory life sentence for aggravated murder. Triplett will be eligible for parole in 30 years.

A jury convicted Triplett on April 8 after a five-day trial. Young Wiggins was found Nov. 22, 1998 in the defendant's second-floor apartment at 3327 North Detroit Ave.

He suffered numerous injuries in the beating, which investigators believe were inflicted with a pipe. He was struck repeatedly on the head, face, abdomen, and chest.

Judge Osowik said he was astounded by the defendant's extensiv