HERNANDO, Miss. — Jack “Tommy” Raines will spend 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of his son Tyler.
When police found the 11-year-old boy’s body last year, he weighed only 56 pounds and was covered in bruises and cigarette burns.
Family said he looked worse than a concentration camp prisoner, and he would try sneaking a younger sibling’s baby formula because he wasn’t allowed to eat.
Tyler’s stepmother, Amanda Raines, received a life sentence in August for the same charge.
A judge sentenced Tommy Raines on Monday.
“40 years, 40 years was not the sentence we though Tommy deserved. Tommy deserved the same sentence that Amanda did. Amanda got life,” said Deborah Berry.
She said she and other family members will never get over the tragic death of her grandson.
“He knew what was going on. He helped her do the things to Tyler that were done to Tyler. And there were seven other children in that home that had to witness what happened.”
The judge in the case said Raines’ lesser sentence was attributed to his remorse when taken into custody.
“He has constantly showed remorse throughout. Now that doesn’t mean he’s a good person, that doesn’t mean he’s less guilty than she is, by any stretch of the imagination.” said Steven Jubera.
Jubera also pointed out since Raines is 43-years-old, the sentence amounts to life behind bars.
Berry, who addressed Raines before he was sentenced, said no amount of time behind bars can bring Tyler back.
“I hoped someday our family could forgive him for what he did. But the final justice would be in God’s hands. Because that’s the only person that could forgive him for what he did.”
