Steckman gets 18 years for murder of Martin

Bradley Marion Steckman was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison Friday for the 1996 murder of Pullman resident Dorothy Martin.

Whitman County Superior Court Judge Dave Frazier handed down the maximum sentence allowed for second-degree murder to Steckman, saying he couldn't find any compassion for the 34-year-old convicted criminal.

"You killed a woman for money," Frazier told Steckman. "I don't care if it's $1,000 or $30,000, you are a coward."

Steckman was convicted in July of killing the 89-year-old Martin. He pleaded guilty to the charges that were filed after more than four years of police investigation. Steckman strangled Martin during a burglary of her Military Hill apartment in July 1996. He reportedly stole a diamond ring during the burglary. Martin had told people the ring was worth $30,000.

William Martin, Dorothy Martin's son, was given a chance to address the court before Frazier's sentencing. William Martin said he hoped Steckman received the maximum sentence.

"I'm happy with the sentence," Martin said after Frazier's ruling. "If it could be more, that would be fine ... I don't know if there is such a thing as closure."

John Snyder, Steckman's lead defense attorney, told Frazier that his client did commit the crime, but didn't deserve the maximum sentence. Snyder said Steckman was a professional thief and killing wasn't in his nature.

Frazier told the defense that there were two sides to the case: an argument built from evidence collected by the Pullman Police Department and the argument of Steckman's character as described by his attorney.

"You are a professional thief, burglar, dishonest person," Frazier said. "Who am I to believe?"

Steckman, handcuffed and dressed in orange prison garb, didn't address the court.

Ann Shannon, one of two prosecuting attorneys in the case, said she was happy with the outcome..

"I think we got a good resolution," Shannon said.

Shannon said handing Steckman the maximum sentence was the only appropriate thing for Frazier to do.

"It boils down to a simple conclusion," Shannon said. "Mr. Steckman murdered Dorothy Martin ... he committed the ultimate crime."

Before the sentencing, Shannon gave Frazier a portrait of Dorothy Martin. Frazier showed the picture to Steckman.

"That's a proud woman," Frazier said to Steckman. "Look at the lady you killed."

Steckman, who sparked the first murder case in Whitman County since 1994, was ordered by Frazier to pay Martin's family members restitution. Frazier didn't set a date for a hearing to decide the amount. Steckman also was ordered to pay more than $10,000 in defense and court fees.

Although Steckman's case is closed, Pullman Police Det. Rick Peringer said the department is still looking for two other suspects, Skye Hanson and Tina Loesch.

Hanson and her roommate, Loesch, disappeared shortly after Anita Steckman, Bradley Steckman's ex-wife, went to police with information in September 1999 about the murder.

Anita Steckman told police that her ex-husband was employed by Hanson and gave her the ring following the burglary.

"If he wants to talk to us about (Hanson and Loesch), we're more than happy to talk," Peringer said of Steckman.