ST. LOUIS, MO (July 01, 2024) — Ledra Craig, 21, was given a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Donald Yorker, 53, on February 5, 2021, in the 3300 block of Leola Avenue in the City’s Lindenwood Park neighborhood.  St. Louis Circuit Judge Madeline Connolly also gave Craig a consecutive term of 15 years for armed criminal action. A jury found Craig guilty of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in April.

Yorker was walking into his house at about 5:30 p.m., when Craig got out of his car and asked for directions to Union Station. As Yorker was answering him, Craig shot him once in the face with a 9 mm handgun. Yorker was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Craig’s cell phone contained data showing him in the area at the time of the murder, as well as an image of Yorker from TV news.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Circuit Attorney Rob Huq and Chief Trial Attorney Marvin O. Teer, Jr.

“This was a cold-blooded murder of a man who had done nothing but try to be helpful to a stranger,” said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “It is our hope that this sentence will bring the Yorker family closure.”

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