Man sentenced in 2013 murder

By JOE GORMAN

jgorman@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Georgia West wanted the man convicted of killing her son to have a Bible in prison and gave one to the judge to pass onto to him during his sentencing hearing.

But after the hearing Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for Theodore Alexander, convicted of the murder of 27-year-old Ivan West, Alexander declined the gift.

Alexander, 60, was sentenced by Judge John M. Durkin to 15 years to life in prison on a charge of murder, the only sentence he could receive by law for the stabbing death of West, who died in Alexander’s South Side apartment Sept. 29, 2013, from a stab wound. Alexander was convicted June 30 by a jury after a two-day trial.

Georgia West said she believes Alexander deserves to be punished for taking her son away from her, but she added she prays for him every day, hoping he can be blessed by God to counsel younger inmates to keep them from spending their lives in prison.

She said her 7-year-old grandson still does not understand what happened to his father.

“If he sees a balloon or airplane flying through the air he says, ‘Hi, daddy,’” Georgia West said. “He doesn’t understand. We tell him he’s [Ivan West] on a trip in heaven.”

Georgia West said her son was a hard worker and good father who loved his family, son and God. She said dealing with his death is still a struggle three years later.

She told Alexander there was no need for him to kill her son.

“If you would’ve known him, instead of taking his life, he would’ve given you the shirt off his back,” Georgia West said.

Alexander is appealing his conviction and declined to speak before he was sentenced.

Alexander received 985 days credit toward his sentence for the time he served in the county jail waiting for the case to be concluded.