Ian Kroe, 55, struck up a friendship with the victim — a lifetime friend of his mother — moving from Minnesota to be closer to her after his mother’s death. He drained her accounts, virtually imprisoned her in the Belmont Hyatt Hotel for over a year and raped her numerous times, the DA’s Office said previously.
Now, Kroe will serve one of the longest sentences in San Mateo County history, Wagstaffe said.
“It is one of longest sentences ever handed out in San Mateo County history, and Mr. Kroe is richly deserving of that for what he did to this woman,” he said.
Wagstaffe emphasized that the testimony and bravery of the victim was integral to the jury trial conviction, which included guilty verdicts on torture, rape and elder abuse.
“She stood up to him. She testified and spoke at his sentencing, and clearly Mr. Kroe never thought she would have the strength to do it,” he said. “She brought justice to us in this case.”
Kroe unsuccessfully argued during the trial that all acts performed were consensual and she was controlling him via witchcraft.
A restitution hearing to determine how much Kroe owes the victim will be held Oct. 29.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
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