In a Dallas County courtroom yesterday, Robert Ray Kelley was sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty in the January 2025 killing of Stephanie Wenneberg, a Garland mother of three. The plea deal resolved murder and aggravated assault charges and includes the possibility of parole under the agreement. According to court testimony, Wenneberg was shot outside an apartment complex after stepping in to protect a friend.
Family Confronts Defendant in Court
Wenneberg’s mother, Nancy Savattere, faced Kelley during the hearing and described the relentless grief of losing her daughter, saying, "I start every day thinking I must face the world without my daughter," according to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. A friend who was there the night of the shooting and was nearly shot herself told Kelley he had "ruined our lives" and said Wenneberg died in her daughter's arms, the station reported.
Police Say Shooting Happened Outside Garland Apartments
Garland police say the shooting happened just before 2 a.m. on Jan. 21, 2025, in the 4500 block of Chaha Road, where first responders found Wenneberg suffering from a gunshot wound. She later died at a hospital, as reported by The Dallas Morning News. Investigators say Kelley fled the scene and remained at large for months before surrendering to Garland police in mid-March. FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth had previously reported on the Chaha Road location.
Legal Details
Kelley pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated assault in exchange for the 30-year sentence with the possibility of parole, and Judge Andy Chatham accepted the plea, according to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the terms of the plea, the station reported.
Family members say the prison term cannot undo the loss, but hope it sends a clear message about the consequences of violent confrontations. Wenneberg’s children and relatives continue to grieve as the court record closes one chapter of a case that began in early 2025.
