Doug Stewart gets life in Venus' murder

CENTREVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) - Shackled and in prison garb, Doug Stewart once again showed no emotion as he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the premeditated murder of his wife, Venus, nearly one year ago.

Stewart, who stayed silent during his murder trial, did speak at his sentencing, but only briefly. And he did not admit anything about Venus being dead.

"All I have to say is I'm innocent," he told the court. "I did not do these crimes. "I ask that the court or the police, I'm not really sure of the chain of command or how it works, continue to look for my wife, if not for me, then my children need to know what happened to their mother."

Prosecutor John McDonough said that if Stewart had "any goodness in his heart, please tell us where his wife's body is. Please do the right thing for those two little girls."

But he remained tight-lipped to no one in the family's surprise.

"That was kind of what I was expecting, but I was hoping otherwise," said Venus' brother, Dustin Jasper, outside court.

"When he makes a statement tomorrow (Monday) we really don't want to hear anything he has to say, other than where my sister's at," Jasper said on Sunday in a phone call with 24 Hour News 8. "If he has any heart for his daughters, his family, then he'll end all this."

"It isn't a matter of forgiveness. It's a matter of closing everything."

After the sentencing, Venus' mother, Therese McComb added, "I'm not surprised that he didn't take any responsibility because that's just the way he is. I mean I just wish he understood what his daughters were going through. I can't believe he doesn't miss her."

For McComb, her main concern now are the two young girls.

"They talk about their mom. They miss her, they wish they could go to Heaven and see her, and why doesn't she call us from Heaven," she said.

The jury also found Doug guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, a conspiracy the jury believed he had with college student Ricky Spencer, and carried out in Delaware, Virginia, Ohio and Michigan.

The family plans to have a funeral for Venus on April 26 - the one year anniversary of her disappearance. It will begin at 5 p.m. at the Firm Foundation Ministries, 651 E. Main Street in Centreville. Details of a trust fund for Venus' daughters will be announced soon.