Danville man sentenced to life in prison for role in 2020 triple homicide

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URBANA — A Danville man has been sentenced to life in prison for his role in a 2020 triple homicide in that city.

Vermilion County Judge Derek Girton sentenced Cloanger Robinson, 22, on Tuesday to natural life after a jury convicted him on May 24 on three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Nathaniel N. Gentry, 65; Cordell J. Reed Sr., 67; and Anthony D. Jones, 60, on Jan. 22, 2020.

Evidence from that five-day trial showed the three men were Danville residents and longtime friends playing cards in Mr. Reed’s home that evening in the 400 block of Elm Street, Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy said.

An eyewitness testified that Mr. Reed welcomed Robinson, who was his nephew, into his home. Robinson, then 18, was accompanied by two juveniles: Terrion T. Tinsley, then 16, and an unnamed 17-year-old at the time.

The three youths were wearing latex gloves under their knit gloves that night, Lacy said, and a Danville police investigation indicated they wanted cannabis and thought there was more in the house than the small amount investigators believed was present for personal use.

The three men were found dead around 11 a.m. the next day. A forensic pathologist testified all died from stab wounds and blunt force trauma. Robinson testified he struck Mr. Gentry in the head three times with a baseball bat after the two got into an argument.

“I have faith that restitution will present itself through remorse in the damages brought upon my family, not only in ripping a beloved family member from us, but also in the destruction of our family home,” Mr. Jones’ brother wrote in a victim impact statement Lacy read aloud Tuesday.

“Prior to his death we were making plans for my son and father to meet for the very first time. Now that will never happen,” Mr. Gentry’s daughter wrote. “Words cannot explain the pain that is in my soul,” she continued.

In handing down the sentence, Girton noted evidence toward Robinson’s premeditation and planning. In his 35-year career, the judge said he had never seen anything as “brutal and senseless.”

“These innocent victims were lifelong residents of Danville, who loved their community,” Lacy said. “Their families did not deserve to have their loved ones stolen from them.

“Judge Girton’s sentence and words to the defendant today were a clear message that unconscionable acts of violence will not be accepted in our community,” Lacy continued. “I hope the closure of this case helps the victims’ families to begin their true healing.”

Girton sentenced Tinsley to life in prison in April after a jury convicted him of two counts of first-degree murder. The 17-year-old who entered the residence with the two others pleaded guilty to robbery and agreed to cooperate as a state’s witness to testify in court.