Granite City man sentenced to life in prison for Knox County deputy’s death

By LISA HAMMER

CAMBRIDGE – Dozens of Knox County sheriff’s deputies lined the old large courtroom in the Henry County courthouse Friday to hear the final chapter in the murder of Knox County Deputy Nicholas Weist, 34.

Weist was killed while putting out stop sticks on U.S. 150 near Alpha on April 29, 2022, to stop Daylon K. Richardson, then 22, of Granite City, Illinois, who was fleeing police after wielding a gun at a Galesburg gas station. A Henry County jury found Richardson guilty of murder on Feb. 29, 2024, also finding Richardson knew the deceased was a peace officer.

Circuit Judge Norma Kauzlarich sentenced Richardson, now 26, to natural life in prison without the possibility of parole on two counts of murder, a concurrent 10 years on a charge of felony possession of a firearm and a concurrent three years for felony aggravated fleeing and eluding.

“I hope that you take this opportunity to do exactly as you stated, an opportunity to better yourself and try to serve as an example to others. You indicated you found God. I hope you have,” the judge said. “I hope God has mercy on your soul.”

Justice has been served.

Today marks an important step toward healing for our community. The individual responsible for the tragic loss of one of our own, Deputy Nicholas Weist #936, has been held accountable. While nothing can bring back the life of our brother, the life sentence imposed brings us one step closer to healing and closure.

We continue to stand with the family, friends, and colleagues of our fallen deputy. His sacrifice will never be forgotten, and his legacy will continue to inspire and protect. – Knox County Sheriff’s Office

Weist’s widow speaks at hearing

Weist’s widow Jessica Weist was the first of several family members to give a victim impact statement, saying she wished time had healed their wounds, but that process had only just begun.

Her husband was easy to talk to, kind and thoughtful, always patient and slow to anger, humorous and friendly with everyone he met, she said. He was a wonderful father and the pair were a team, taking different days off to be there for their children’s special days, thinking they would have the rest of their lives to spend together.

She talked about the prospect of a future alone as being scary and that she struggles with insomnia. She said her husband had never wanted her to worry, so he would text her whenever he was running late getting home from work, sometimes with a single word, “late.”

She recalled worrying about him that day in 2022 when he didn’t come home, and calling the sheriff’s office hoping to hear that he was being treated for a minor injury. Instead she was to suffer the impact of the words, “I’m sorry, he is deceased.”

“I was in shock,” she said.

She said the image of his body covered in a sheet at the funeral home later that night is one she will live with for the rest of her life.

She said she barely let her children, then 9 and 12 years old, out of her sight after that and even after hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars of therapy, the tears still come and the pain is still overwhelming.

“I am forced to be a single mother with no one to share the load or help make decisions,” she said.

She said she has a lot of questions about April 29, 2022 including was her husband scared, what were his last thoughts, did he think of his family.

“Thoughts of what he endured the last seconds of his life are unbearable,” she said.

She said Richardson had not once in three and a half years shown remorse outside of the sentencing that morning. She noted she never got to say goodbye to her husband and she will live with regrets for things she never said to him.

“Our lives will never be the same,” she said, and asked the judge to make sure Richardson is never able to harm another family as long as he lives.

Other family members recall fallen deputy

Weist’s son Emery recalled an amazing father who was there for him no matter what they talked about. He recalled leaving the lunchroom that day with his friends and going home to find his mother crying. He noted the milestones his father would never share with him, including meeting his grandchildren.

He said his father was the biggest influence of his life and the person he could always count on, who understood him.

Weist’s daughter Ava said she had gone to bed without saying goodnight the night before her father died.

“It forced me to leave my childhood behind and step into the real world,” she said, adding that she would give anything to hear her father call her ‘princess’ one last time.

She remembered her stomach being in knots the morning she was told her father was killed. She called him one of her biggest role models, approachable and trustworthy and said they had big dreams to travel abroad someday.

“He was always looking for new challenges for us to try,” she said. “There are still some days I don’t want to go to dance or get out of bed.”

At night she checks the locks on the doors to keep anything bad from happening to her mother.

“Nothing can replace what was stolen from me,” she said.

Weist’s sister Lindsay Weist contrasted her brother’s most self-sacrificing act with Richardson’s “most self-centered act.”

She recalled her brother was just off duty and should have been pulling into his own driveway after a long shift, but instead laid down his life in order to protect others.

“He chose selflessness because that’s who Nick was,” she said.

“It’s unfathomable that my parents lost a son that day,” she said. “No parent should ever lose a child.”

She said she’s glad her own son has pictures from fishing with his uncle and grandfather. She said a person could hear the enormity of the loss of their father in his children’s screams that day.

“I lost my only sibling, my brother, my big brother I was supposed to raise kids with,” she said, adding the world lost a truly selfless hero.

She said in the aftermath of his death, she heard from strangers who he had arrested who “spoke so kindly of him.”

Weist’s mother Robin Monson talked about her shock, horror, disbelief, screaming and wailing when her husband came to deliver the news her son was dead.

“The trauma caused by Mr. Richardson’s actions profoundly altered my family’s daily life,” she said.

She said Richardson had stolen her grandchildren’s innocence.

“There are days when my anger is overwhelming and I struggle to reconcile pain with the forgiveness I know I am called to offer,” she said.

She said she would never receive another text or call from her son saying that he loved her, and there would never be another birthday or another Christmas with him.

“There will always be an empty seat at the table and an ache in my heart,” she said. “I will never be who I was prior to Mr. Richardson coming into our lives uninvited.”

Henry County State’s Attorney Catherine Runty read a statement from Weist’s father Kevin Weist that said the true meaning of courage was strength, service and sacrifice.

“I loved my son and I miss him very much,” Kevin Weist said in the statement. “Nick will be in the hearts of many forever.”

He talked about how the family had enjoyed fishing and riding bikes together, enjoying being outdoors and exercise, and throwing a ball with his children.

He said his son had loved his job. The anger and pain he said he felt are still overwhelming and he called the death a senseless act of violence made with no regard for others.

Defendant gives statement

Richardson gave a statement in which he said it was not his intention to hurt or harm anyone. He recalled being harassed by police officers earlier in his life and offered a prayer for Weist’s wife and children. He also apologized to his own parents and the rest of his family, some of whom were in the courtroom.

Richardson’s mother also gave a statement, saying from the time he was very young he had been bullied, mocked and excluded and then harassed by members of their local police department. She said Richardson was not acting out of malice or intent to harm anyone, but acting out of fear when tragedy struck.

Kauzlarich noted the mother’s statement that her son had been picked on and said in her experience, police “pick on” a person that continually comes to their attention for whatever reason.