August 20, 1999
A man and woman may spend the rest of their lives in prison in a high-profile murder and child abuse case.
A judge slapped Andrew Fedorowicz and Ferosa Bluff with the maximum sentence today in the torture and murder of Bluff's three-year-old daughter. News Specialist Jed Boal reports from the courthouse.
In trial, witnesses called it the the worst case of child abuse they'd ever seen. The judge today called it the most dastardly deed as can be done by adults to a child. With that, he sent Ferosa Bluff and Andrew Fedorowicz to prison, possibly for the rest of their lives.
Prosecutors say justice was done for three-year-old Rebecca Bluff--as much as the law would allow. Judge Dennis Frederick said Fedorowicz and Bluff had to know they caused extreme pain to the child when they tortured her, and beat her until she died.
Neither defendant showed any signs of remorse as they stood before the judge in jail fatigues, in handcuffs and waist chains. Both convicted killers were sentenced five years to life and child sexual abuse.
Robert Stott/Prosecutor: I THINK ANDREW WILL SERVE A VERY LONG TIME. AND I THINK FEROSA WILL SERVE A VERY LONG TIME UNLESS SHE CHANGES HER OUTLOOK.
James Cope/Prosecutor: I THINK SOMEBODY NEEDS TO HAVE AN ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT.
Neither Bluff nor Fedorowicz showed any signs of remorse as they faced the judge. Bluff even smiled faintly as she did during the trial.
Ed Brass/Bluff's Lawyer: WHAT YOU SAW WAS FEAR, AND NOTHING MORE THAN THAT. EVERYONE'S DIFFERENT.
Prosecutors said it was a just sentence, simply because it was a terrible thing to do to a child.
Robert Stott/Prosecutor: IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM LIKE THERE WAS ANYONE STICKING UP FOR THE CHILD. I THINK WE SAW TODAY THAT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM DID THE BEST IT COULD UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCE TO SAY SOMETHING FOR THE LITTLE GIRL.
Ed Brass/Bluff's Lawyer: THIS IS TRAGIC BOTH FOR HER DAUGHTER AND FOR HER, AND FOR HER HUSBAND WHO REMAINS CONVINCED SHE DIDN'T DO THIS.
Following the trial, Todd Bluff said his wife couldn't have killed their daughter. The prosecutors say it's obvious they covicted the right killers, and parole is unlikely any time soon.
