10. Justice Delivered

Summary

Episode Summary: "Justice Delivered" – This Doesn't Happen to People Like Me

Release Date: April 11, 2025

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Introduction

In the gripping final episode of the ten-part true crime series, "This Doesn't Happen to People Like Me," hosted by Mike Boudet of Sword and Scale, listeners are taken through the harrowing conclusion of Tina Lohman's case against Bradley Yawn. This episode, titled "Justice Delivered," delves into the culmination of a brutal crime, the intense courtroom drama, and the profound impact on Tina's family and the community.

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The Crime and Investigation

On November 9, 2021, Tina Lohman, a 77-year-old grandmother, encountered Bradley Yawn and his accomplice, Karen Blackledge, on Cook's Lane in Quincy, Illinois. What was supposed to be a routine assistance for Tina’s car trouble turned into a nightmare as Bradley brutally robbed, assaulted, and raped her, leaving the town in shock.

Heidi Lohman, Tina's daughter, recounts the terrifying encounter:

"Yan and his accomplice Karen Blackledge came across 77-year-old Tina Loman on November 9, 2021. She was having car trouble on Cook's Lane. Jan sexually assaulted her as he drove them to her North Bottoms road home. That's where he continued the sexual assault." [02:05]

Despite Tina's willingness to comply, Bradley's actions were violent and senseless, leaving the community and Tina's family seeking answers.

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The Trial

Bradley Yawn's trial concluded on July 17, 2023. Throughout the trial, prosecutors presented overwhelming evidence, including photos, videos, and testimonies from medical professionals and Tina's husband. However, a lingering question remained: What was Bradley's motive?

Josh Jones, the prosecutor, highlights the randomness of the act:

"I don't think that I can even put myself in a position to think like he does and try to answer that question." [04:20]

Brandon Yawn maintained his innocence throughout, even representing himself in court. His irrational and incoherent arguments baffled both the court and the observers.

David Adam, a news editor, expressed his confusion:

"Why? What the fuck kind of a social. Life does this guy have?" [03:24]

Despite Bradley's denial, the evidence against him was irrefutable, leading to a unanimous guilty verdict on all counts.

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Victim Impact Statements

The heart of the trial lay not just in proving Bradley's guilt but also in conveying the profound loss and trauma experienced by Tina's family. Tina's children and grandchildren took the stage to deliver powerful impact statements, sharing their grief and the lasting scars left by the crime.

Heidi Lohman passionately addressed the court:

"My mom was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great grandmother... Today, I know we cannot hold you accountable for her death in this court, but we all know that you're responsible for her death." [18:10]

Carly Lohman, Tina's granddaughter, shared her anguish:

"685 days since I first heard your name and knew your face... Today means nothing. Nothing miraculous is going to happen and I will feel no peace leaving the courtroom today." [23:05]

Derek Lohman, Tina's son, highlighted systemic failures:

"The real tragedy is the legal system that failed Tina Loman in the first place... Bradley Yawn has proven that he cannot live in a normal society without assaulting others and needs to be removed from society permanently." [20:45]

These statements underscored the emotional toll on Tina's family and the quest for justice.

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Sentencing

On September 25, 2023, Bradley Yawn faced sentencing. Prosecutor Josh Jones sought the maximum penalties for each of the crimes committed, cumulatively totaling 130 years. He emphasized the unparalleled brutality of Bradley's actions:

"This is the crime that calls out for that penalty, and this is the defendant that calls out for that punishment." [27:00]

The judge delivered an unexpected verdict, labeling Bradley as the "most reprehensible person" he had encountered in his career and imposing the maximum sentence. Shortly after, an additional 7-year sentence was added for a prior charge, bringing Bradley's total to 137 years in prison.

Josh Jones remarked on Bradley's behavior:

"You are the most reprehensible person I've had in court before me... you're going to be perfect for 130 years in prison." [31:30]

The sentencing marked a significant moment of relief for Tina's family, who had endured nearly two years of legal battles.

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Aftermath and Reflections

Despite the sentencing, the ordeal left lasting trauma on Tina's family and the Quincy community. The episode highlights the family's ongoing struggle with loss and the systemic issues that allowed Bradley's release prior to the crime.

Heidi Lohman reflected on personal losses:

"Life has been very different without my grandma... I just hope she knows that she got justice." [38:51]

Carly Lohman discussed changes in her life:

"I don't feel as safe in Quincy. I don't stop to help people as much. I have changed completely." [40:30]

David Adam offered a broader perspective on community safety:

"The world isn't as kind and caring of a place as we once thought that it was... you just can't be as trusting." [41:30]

The episode concludes with a poignant reminder of Tina Lohman's life beyond the tragedy, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and protecting vulnerable members of society.

Mike Boudet sums up:

"Tina Loman's life was so much more than how it ended... This is a cautionary tale. Beware of your surroundings and take reasonable steps to protect yourself and your family." [45:49]

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Conclusion

"Justice Delivered" serves as a powerful closure to Tina Lohman's tragic story, highlighting not only the quest for justice but also the profound personal losses endured by her family. It underscores systemic flaws, the randomness of violence, and the enduring impact on a community. The episode invites listeners to reflect on safety, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of justice in the face of unimaginable cruelty.

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Notable Quotes:

• Josh Jones [00:10]: "The criminal justice system and trials are not what you see on TV..."

• David Adam [02:05]: "Bradley Yawn robbed Tina Loman. He stole her car, her jewelry, her money and much, much more."

• Carly Lohman [24:16]: "He's nothing but a coward. You're so weak and little that you had to attack a 77-year-old woman to feel like you're something."

• Josh Jones [27:00]: "If any crime deserves 130 years, what crime could it be?"

• Heidi Lohman [40:30]: "I don't go out at night anymore. I will not stop on the side of the road, nor will I help other people on the side of the road."

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This summary encapsulates the emotional and procedural journey of Tina Lohman's case, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the events, their aftermath, and the broader implications on justice and community safety.

Transcript

[Mike Boudet]

Last time on this Doesn't Happen to People Like Me.

[Josh Jones]

The criminal justice system and trials are not what you see on tv. There's a reason why lawyers go to school for three years and pass the bar. And there's a reason why not everybody can be a trial attorney.

[David Adam]

People were fascinated. I can't believe he keeps getting away with all these things that he's saying.

[Josh Jones]

At no point in his irrational closing argument did he come anywhere close to coherent thought. We were all dumber for having heard it. Are you aware that there was no nine?

[Mike Boudet]

Objection, your honor.

[Josh Jones]

I will sustain the objection. Mr. No nine more objection, your honor.

[Mike Boudet]

Welcome to the final episode of this Doesn't Happen to People Like Me. We hope you've enjoyed the series and if you have, you can find more stories like it at Sword and scale. Please consider subscribing. Your support allows us to be able to experiment and create new stories for you in the future. Thank you and welcome. On July 17, 2023, the trial for Bradley Yawn came to an end. Despite Bradley's attempts to stop and delay the proceedings, prosecutors presented their case to a jury. They attempted to prove that Bradley was the man who robbed, assaulted and raped 77 year old Tina Loman in November of 2021.

[Heidi Lohman]

Yan and his accomplice Karen Blackledge came across 77 year old Tina Loman on November 9, 2021. She was having car trouble on Cook's Lane. Jan sexually assaulted her as he drove them to her North Bottoms road home. That's where he continued the sexual assault.

[Mike Boudet]

And attacked and robbed her. The assault that Tina Lohman endured was horrific and brutal. And when this case was presented to a jury, the prosecutors didn't hold back. They laid out all the same gruesome details. They showed the pictures, they showed the video evidence. They put doctors, police officers, forensic experts and Tina's husband on the witness stand. Their evidence was compelling and convincing. But there was one element of this crime that they didn't delve into. The motive. Not to make light of this horrific crime, but this case is reminiscent of a comedy standup routine by the late George Carlin.

[Josh Jones]

You ever see a news story like this in the paper? Every now and then you run into a story.

[Heidi Lohman]

So some guy broke into a house.

[Josh Jones]

Stole a lot of things, and while he was in there, he raped an.

[Mike Boudet]

81 year old woman. And I'm thinking to myself, why?

[Josh Jones]

What the fuck kind of a social.

[David Adam]

Life does this guy have?

[Mike Boudet]

Bradley Yawn robbed Tina Loman. He stole her car, her jewelry, her money and much, much More. Tina didn't fight this. She was willing to give Bradley anything he demanded, but that didn't stop him from beating and raping her. For most people, this behavior presents an obvious question. Why?

[Heidi Lohman]

I think in this community there's still that big question of why he didn't take the stand as he was presented the whole time. Will we ever know why? Can we answer that?

[Mike Boudet]

Generally, the people of Quincy, Illinois were horrified and disgusted by what Bradley did to Tina, but they were also dumbfounded by it. What in the world could motivate someone to brutalize and rape a 77 year old great grandmother?

[David Adam]

I have no idea why he committed this crime. I really don't. Because he'd had no prior engagement with this woman. She just happened to stop in this one particular place. It wasn't like he broke into her home. I mean, she was in a car on a road just trying to get home. And it was just pure unadulterated circumstance that those two people's lives crossed the way they did. And I don't think that I can even put myself in a position to think like he does and try to answer that question.

[Mike Boudet]

News editor David Adam can't make sense of what Bradley did, and neither can prosecutors.

[Josh Jones]

No idea. I mean, it's the definition of random act of violence. You know, it's, it's one of those things that nobody is ever going to understand. It's a crime that defies any type of, of belief or explanation. Tina Loman was a 70, 78 year old grandmother on the side of the road who needed help. Mr. Yawn saw that as an opportunity to attack. I, I guess maybe that's what it comes down to, that some people are just predators. And when you show weakness to a predator, the predator attacks.

[F]

Unfortunately, as Josh said, I think that's what makes this crime so horrible is there is no explanation. It's just completely senseless. And you know, a lot of times you can point to the fact that somebody has an addiction issue or they had a terrible childhood or different things like that, and maybe those things contributed to it, but I think it's just completely senseless. And he is an evil person.

[Mike Boudet]

Similarly, Tina's granddaughter Carly and Tina's daughter Ilsa are just as puzzled by Bradley's behavior.

[Heidi Lohman]

I wish I knew the answer to that, why they committed this crime. Because I can't, I can't even put myself in their shoes to even come up with an answer. Because in my brain, why? And it's a random, a random act of violence. I don't Understand it. I want to say it was drug induced, but even then I don't know and I don't know if we'll ever have that answer. And even if they were going to give us that answer, I don't think we'd want to hear it or like the answer. I think they're both sick and why they did it. I would. I. I can't even. I can't even imagine why. I. I still to this day don't understand why this had to happen.

[Carly Lohman]

I think Bradley Yon and Karen Blackledge were under the influence of drugs. They saw an wherever they were to get what they wanted. They just wanted more. And the sad part is that they could have just taken what my mom gave them. They could have taken the jewelry, they could have taken the money, and we would have all moved on with our lives and my mom would still be here. None of that mattered. And they had to go so much farther and hurt her. And. I don't know. I can't even put into words what they were doing because I don't live my life that way.

[Mike Boudet]

If you were to ask a psychologist or other mental health expert about the why behind this crime, you'd probably be told that sexual assault is rarely about sex. It's about control, humiliation, domination, and violence. While we can understand those words, most of us stop short of truly understanding how anyone could behave this way. The only explanation available to us is that Bradley Yawn is just an evil person. He is a monster. Beyond that, there isn't much more to say about his motive. And to most of us, that's just not acceptable.

[F]

I would say that both Josh and I have prosecuted some very, very bad cases. But Bradley on is one of the few people I can say he is truly evil. Both what he did to Tina, his lack of complete remorse, the way he talked about Tina, the way he talked about her family. He is evil. And there's just no other way to say it.

[Mike Boudet]

There was another aspect of Bradley's behavior that didn't make much sense. During the trial, Bradley insisted that he didn't commit this crime. And he genuinely seemed to believe in his innocence and his just delusion.

[Heidi Lohman]

I think he's genuinely convinced himself that he didn't do this, which is wild. He has just completely disassociated himself from his crimes, which maybe that's his coping mechanism. Maybe he can't handle the nasty crap he did. It's crazy to watch. I mean, it's indescribable. I have never witnessed a human this freaking Crazy and delusional.

[Mike Boudet]

Before, despite being faced with overwhelming evidence, Bradley had seemingly convinced himself that he was innocent. According to prosecutors, this denial and delusion is not uncommon. They've seen it many times before.

[F]

So it's always interesting to me as a prosecutor when you do these types of cases where the evidence is overwhelming, and certainly in Mr. Gahn's case, I believe the evidence was overwhelming that he committed these offenses for all the reasons we've talked about. But how I've really seen this in my career is you look at somebody's jail calls, you look at somebody's jail messages, and you compare them when they're first charged, as opposed to by the time the case is done. And so many times they go from where they've maybe actively confessed or the DNA evidence is overwhelming or something, or there's video surveillance, and they start with talking with their family members about how they did it, but they just want to get the lowest sentence possible to potentially, by the end of the prosecution, they have convinced themselves and their family members they did not do this offense. I'm not a mental health professional. I don't know if that's a diagnosis, but I believe that happened with Mr. Yawn. He convinced himself that he did not actually do this. Whether that's because he was under so much drugs at the time of the offense that he has a mental illness, both, or it's just that he wrapped it around in his mind those 19 months in jail that he did not do this. But I think he does believe that he's not guilty of this offense.

[Mike Boudet]

Throughout the trial, it certainly appeared that Bradlee had convinced himself that he was innocent. And just about everyone was perplexed by.

[David Adam]

How adamant he was when it came to Bradley Yon. It reminded me of George Costanza in Seinfeld. And George made the comment in one of his famous episodes that if you truly believe it, it's not a lie. And I think Bradley Yan truly believed he didn't do it, but he didn't have any evidence that would have helped him, would have proved his innocence. I mean, there was just so much evidence that was in front of him that he just couldn't over. It was a mountain of it.

[Mike Boudet]

Indeed, there was a mountain of evidence that proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Bradley was guilty. He may have convinced himself that he didn't commit these crimes, but that didn't matter. All that mattered was the jury and what they believed. On the day that the trial ended, Bradley and the rest of the world learned what the jury believed on that Day, the jury returned a verdict. On July 17, 2023, Tina Loman's family gathered in a courtroom. They had waited two years and gone through absolute hell to get to this day. The trial for Bradley Yawn was over, and the jury had reached a unanimous verdict.

[Heidi Lohman]

We, the jury, find the defendant Bradley.

[Carly Lohman]

Yawn guilty of home invasion.

[Heidi Lohman]

We, the jury, find the defendant Bradley Yawn guilty of home invasion. Criminal sexual assault. We, the jury, find the defendant Bradley Yawn guilty of aggravated kidnapping. We, the jury, find the defendant Bradley Yawn guilty of aggravated vehicular hijacking. We, the jury, find the defendant Bradley Yawn guilty of aggravated criminal sexual assault. We, the jury, find the defendant Bradley Yawn guilty of residential burglary.

[Mike Boudet]

Guilty on all counts. It took the jury about three hours to reach that decision after Bradley Yawn defended himself in court for about a week.

[Josh Jones]

You know, again, we talk about social media and the things that post on Facebook or Instagram or whatever, and I've seen a lot of people talk about how he's making a mockery of the system. I mean, I think it's important to point out that this is how the system is supposed to work. He has a right to represent himself. And sometimes the wheels of justice grind slowly, but they grind. And we weren't going to stop. We weren't going to slow down. We were going to make sure we got to this day. It wasn't when we wanted to get there. It wasn't when the family wanted to get there, but we were going to get to this point, and we were going to hold him accountable.

[F]

When the verdict was read, it was a sense of huge relief for the family, number one, that finally, you know, 19, 20 months after not only their mother had been sexually assaulted and robbed in her own home, but also that they had lost their mother, that she had died, that finally they knew Bradley Yonn was convicted and was hopefully going to go to prison for a very, very long time and never be able to hurt anyone again. It was also a relief because Bradley Yawn heard the jury say guilty. He needed to hear that. Whether he was going to accept it or not, he was being told he was guilty of all of these crimes.

[Mike Boudet]

Needless to say, hearing the guilty verdict from the jury was a huge relief for Tina's family.

[Carly Lohman]

We all said yes and were so excited and couldn't wait to go have a shot of tequila for Tina and just celebrate that her life and, you know, something finally is going to go our way. I don't know. We just were very happy that they found him guilty. We just. I couldn't even put into words how happy we were.

[Heidi Lohman]

Oh, man, when we heard the guilty verdict, it was like, oh, this giant weight had been lifted. I mean, two years of carrying this around, and, man, it was awesome. I was like, thank. I mean, I had to pinch myself. I was like, is this. Is this real? Like, are we sure there's. There's not a surprise at the end? Like, there has been this whole time, just looking at the jury's faces, I was so grateful that they did the right thing and that they were able to come together and without a shadow of a doubt say, yeah, this guy for sure did these terrible things.

[Mike Boudet]

Bradley was convicted, but the work for Tina's family wasn't over just yet. They had to prepare themselves for sentencing, which meant they needed to prepare victim impact statements.

[Carly Lohman]

I wrote multiple victims impact statements. I don't think I can put everything into words still today of what I've lost. I also want him to feel my pain, and I don't think he's capable of feeling my pain because I don't think he has any morals. Leading up, I think I wrote probably five or six of them. Some being very hateful and mean, some just being try to forgive so that I can move on with my life. But I can't forgive him. I will probably never forgive him.

[Mike Boudet]

Bradley Yawn was a defendant like no other. His absurd and disgusting behavior in the courtroom garnered a lot of attention. So much so that his victim, Tina Loman, seemed like an afterthought.

[David Adam]

What I remember a lot about this whole ordeal was that so much time and energy was spent focusing on Bradley Yon and Karen Blackledge and the things that they did that when it came time to learn a little bit more about Tina Loman, really didn't have a whole lot because we were so focused on the things that Brad Leon was doing. And I remember her daughter Heidi, she made the comment about, you know, we've been watching the Bradley Yon show. Now I want to watch the Tina Loman show. People need to know about what her life was like, too.

[Mike Boudet]

The Bradley Yawn show had ended. The day for sentencing finally came. This allowed Tina's family to address Bradley directly and the court. They could finally speak about who Tina Loman was and about how much she meant to them.

[Heidi Lohman]

My mom was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great grandmother. She adored her family and wouldn't do anything for us. On November 9, 2021, my mom had put in a hard day at work and was exhausted. She was heading home to Take a nap and freshen up before she went out to eat dinner with her husband. However, on her way home, she had the misfortune of running into Ewan Karen Blackledge Henderson. We all know what happened after that. I'm not going to go into that. We've all been through that. My husband and I drove her to Blessing ER to have the sexual assault kit done. She was exhausted, hurting, scared, hungry, thirsty. She was bleeding and still in shock. The sexual assault kit was an invasive and embarrassing procedure. I wanted to protect her and make it stop. I sat there wondering why she was putting herself through more pain and humiliation. The next day, she told me why. It wasn't for her. It wasn't for the police or even to get justice. Her main concern was that you could not hurt anybody else. You see, she did the right thing. Had you done the right thing that night and just helped my mom with her headlights and went on about your merry way, we wouldn't be here today. And my mom would be here today. Now, I know we cannot hold you accountable for her death in this court, but we all know that you're responsible for her death. Mr. Yan, have you ever thought about how different your life would be if you ever did the right thing? You have said that you had various construction jobs. Could you imagine what your life would look like today if you'd kept working hard and doing the right thing? Probably own your own construction company, probably have a nice house, fancy car, beautiful family, maybe even a dog in the yard. However, here we are.

[Mike Boudet]

Those were the words of Tina's oldest daughter, Heidi. Understandably, she finished her statement by asking the judge to give Bradley the maximum allowable sentence. Next to give an impact statement was Tina's husband, Tim.

[Josh Jones]

Mr. Yan, you've hurt a lot of people, including my wife and me and her family and including yourself. How would you like this to have happened to your mother or your sister or any other of your family? You're a menace to society and they're gonna send you to prison and they're not going to let you out. I hope you repent and ask God for his forgiveness, because you're going to have plenty of time in there to think about it.

[Mike Boudet]

Next to speak was Tina's son, Derek. Derek used this time to remind everyone about something that was overlooked during the trial and largely forgotten about Bradley Yan should never have been on the streets in the first place. Three weeks before he attacked Tina, Bradley had been accidentally released from jail.

[Josh Jones]

The real tragedy is the legal system that failed Tina loman in the first place in St. Charles County, Missouri. Jan was released accidentally due to the failure of Sergeant Kara Kworth to enter a warrant for his arrest properly and he was allowed to leave the jail without being held fully accountable. Most people would have used this accident as a second chance to stay out of trouble. Several days after being accidentally released, the Bradley own stole vehicles and then continued to rob, rape and instill fear into my mother. He had several chances to take the money and jewelry and just leave her alone. That's all he had to do. He chose to brutalize her and commit an assault on her body, escalating the scenario for his sick pleasure. Bradley Yawn has proven that he cannot live in a normal society without assaulting others and needs to be removed from society permanently for the safety of those who do the right things and don't take advantage of others.

[Mike Boudet]

Tina's older daughter Ilsa also read her impact statement.

[Carly Lohman]

Here we are. Today. I anticipated this day like some miraculous thing would happen and my mother, Christine Loman, would come back. I wrote letter after letter thinking if I said the right words today, I would feel justice was served. That you would take responsibility for what you did to my mother. That you would somehow feel my pain. Nothing I wrote or anything I said changes anything. 685 days since I first heard your name and knew your face. A face my mother described as a leprechaun off a Lucky Charms box, but dirty. My mother survived your heinous attack and made sure you were finally off the streets after St. Charles county made a huge mistake by accidentally releasing you. 685 days. We have heard all about your injustices. Like you are the victim of this crime. You had no idea of the layer upon layer of injustices our family has faced. Today means nothing. Nothing miraculous is going to happen and I will feel no peace leaving the courtroom today. It's just the chapter is done. I have heard over and over from friends. Now you can start to heal. You don't heal from something like this. The idea of it happening haunts you deep in the night. I don't get to heal because there will always be a piece of me missing for the rest of my life. I can try to fill it with people and things, but I know I will always feel that void of my mother. I will forever hold space for her though, and nothing can fill that space. She was the first heartbeat I felt and the first love I knew.

[Mike Boudet]

Next to speak was Tina's oldest grandchild.

[Josh Jones]

She helped me, raised me. She was like my second mom. We had a very Close bond. She always tell me how much she loved me. She adored my four children, made sure they were spoiled on every birthday and Christmas. She loved Christmas and she loved giving gifts. However, as I watched the trial and learned the gruesome details, I became physically sick. How could you have done that to my grandma? Kidnapping, carjacking, robbing wasn't enough for you? My grandma meant the world to me and to my kids. And she. She was taken from us to it. There's a huge hole in my heart and it cannot be filled. Not to mention I hate seeing my mom, my aunt, my uncles and my cousins struggling to carry on without her. My grandma was a beautiful, classy woman. You tried, but you failed to take away her pride and dignity. Nothing done here today could bring my grandma back. But I truly. I truly hope there will be justice for her.

[Mike Boudet]

Last but not least, Tina's granddaughter Carly also spoke. And she didn't hold back on Bradley.

[Heidi Lohman]

I've written and rewritten my statement several times. And I've decided that nothing I say or do will bring my grandma, Tina Loman, back to us. And even if it did, it wouldn't erase what happened. She is who I care about today. Not you, not Bradley Yan, not what happens to him. He has proven over and over that he has no remorse for what he's done and he has no mental capacity to do so. I'm not going to give you the satisfaction of hearing the pain that you've caused my family and I. I've sat here for almost two years watching you clown this courtroom, watch you clown the state's attorneys, my family, and my grandma spreading your lies and conspiracy theories. You're nothing but a coward. You're a smart, weak man. It's really laughable because you think you're the smartest man in the room. You've proven time and time again that you are quite the opposite. You're so weak and little that you had to attack a 77 year old woman to feel like you're something. And that's embarrassing for you. I'm embarrassed for you, your family, and anyone who's ever known you. And you're nothing. Here you are. The end of your game. No cards left to play. Finally. I was with my grandma the night she passed. She was surrounded by us, her family, who she loved more than her own self. I promised her that we would all be okay and that we would get through this together. And we will. But as for you, Bradley, your part in this game has finally ended. And I wish you nothing but the worst. With my impact statement, I. I was done. I was full of rage. I didn't want to be the bigger person, I guess.

[Mike Boudet]

As part of the sentencing phase, the prosecution also addressed the court and argued for an appropriate sentence for Bradley.

[Josh Jones]

With regard to count one, the charge of home invasion, he is looking at six to 30 years. With regard to count three, aggravated kidnapping, he is looking at six to thirty years in front of the corrections. Count four, aggravated vehicular hijacking, he is looking at six to Thirty years. Count five is aggravated criminal sexual assault. He's looking at a minimum of 16 or a maximum of 40 years with that, that is mandatory. Consecutive with the other counts. So by my math, your honor, he is looking at a maximum of 130 years. If the court were to choose to impose the maximum sentence on every case and to have them run consecutive with each other.

[Mike Boudet]

After running down the charges and possible prison time, prosecutor Josh Jones asked for the only fair sentence.

[Josh Jones]

Your honor, when this case started on November 9, 2021, nearly two years ago, I wasn't sure what I would ask for in a case like this. When I was discussing the case with Ms. Keck, we had lots of different ideas how we would approach the sentencing hearing today. Ms. Keck and I prosecute some of the worst individuals in Adams County. The crimes we see are frightening. But every time we prosecute a case, it's remarkable to me that Ms. Keck tells me things like look for the humanity in the defense. And we try to recognize that everybody is a human being and has a certain amount of respect and dignity do to them. I will be honest, your honor, this is the one case that I cannot say that I cannot find the humanity in this defendant. I have never asked for a sentence of 130 years before. But, your honor, I would ask the court this. If any crime deserves 130 years, what crime could it be? And if any defendant deserves the maximum penalty that this court can impose, what defendant should it be? This is the crime that calls out for that penalty, and this is the defendant that calls out for that punishment. Your honor, I'm asking the court to impose a 30 year sentence on each of the class X felony offenses. I'm asking the court to find in its discretion that each of those sentences be consecutive to each other.

[Mike Boudet]

Prosecutor Josh Jones asked for something that he likely wouldn't get. A maximum sentence of 130 years.

[Josh Jones]

When you commit the crimes that he committed and you have the attitude that he displayed in court and in trial, there was no doubt in my mind that if he is not taken out of society for the rest of his life, he will reoffend. And my job as a prosecutor is to ensure that the citizens of Adams county are protected from violent criminals. The only way to protect the citizens of Adams county from Bradley Yawn was to make sure and to ask the court that he never, ever have an opportunity to reoffend to the citizens of any community.

[Mike Boudet]

The victim impact statements and the prosecution's recommendation were on the record. The victim's sentencing phase was almost complete. All that remained was for this judge to address Bradley and impose punishment. When this happened, the judge spoke and said some things that nobody expected. But the real surprise would come at sentencing. The final verdict would be the most shocking part of it all.

[Carly Lohman]

Satan.

[Mike Boudet]

On Monday, September 25, 2023, Bradley Yawn was back in a courtroom. This time for sentencing. His trial was over. He was found guilty on all counts. The family and pec statements were read into the court record, as was the prosecution's recommendation for sentencing. All that remained was for the judge to impose a sentence.

[Josh Jones]

You have the right to make a statement directly to the court telling me anything that you think I should know before I sentence you. Your statement in allocution is voluntary. You do not have to make a statement. But if you would like to make a statement, now would be the time to do so.

[Mike Boudet]

Your honor, people understand.

[Carly Lohman]

I did not hurt your mother, your grandmother.

[Josh Jones]

I did not do any of that.

[Mike Boudet]

I wasn't part of that this night.

[Josh Jones]

I was not there. There's a lot more to this than y'all know.

[Heidi Lohman]

Your honor.

[Mike Boudet]

I'm not guilty for this at all. Unsurprisingly, Bradley maintained his innocence. After making this foolish statement, Bradley learned his fate.

[Josh Jones]

Mr. Yawn, in my practice of law and in all my years, you are the most reprehensible person I've had in court before me as public defender, as state's attorney, and now as judge, you take no responsibility for crimes that you clearly committed and were proven beyond a reasonable doubt. I believe you're narcissistic and unable to appreciate that, because to admit that would be admitting a fault. And in your mind, you are perfect. Well, sir, you're going to be perfect for 130 years in prison. As I'm adopting the state's recommendation.

[Mike Boudet]

Justice was served. Bradley Yon was given the maximum sentence, and each criminal count against him was ordered to run consecutively.

[David Adam]

When he was sentenced, in which the judge called Jan reprehensible, called him the most reprehensible person ever before me in his career. Now you gotta think about that. That's quite a statement for someone to say, you're number one. You're the worst out of all the people that he'd ever had to deal with.

[Mike Boudet]

When Tina's family gathered in the courtroom that day, they were fairly confident that Bradley would be getting a lengthy prison term. But they did not expect the judge to deliver the maximum sentence.

[Heidi Lohman]

When the judge sentenced him, I was. My jaw dropped. The judge said that he was essentially the worst criminal he's ever come in contact with. I was so happy. I thought, oh, my gosh, this was all worth it.

[Mike Boudet]

The judge sentenced Bradley to 130 years, but he wasn't done. There was yet another crime Bradley committed while in custody. The sentence for this charge was also piled on.

[Josh Jones]

I'm sorry, we're going to have to go back on the record also. Thank you for reminding me of that, Mr. Yan, because you were sentenced to seven years while you were awaiting trial in this matter. These sentences are also going to be consecutive to that sentence. So that'll be a total of 137 you'll be serving.

[Mike Boudet]

Bradley was given 137 years to think about what he had done. The terror and pain that Bradley inflicted on so many people was over. He can never again rob or hurt another person on this earth. Before the court officers could scoop Bradley up and drag his worthless ass to prison, he leaned over the prosecution table and asked prosecutors how much money they were paid to put him in prison.

[Josh Jones]

I leave Miss Keck alone, Mr. Yon, I can tell you. I mean, I get paid the same regardless whether you get a personal bonus.

[Heidi Lohman]

From that family back there. Yo. Bradley Yawn ended up walking out. We kind of stood back. I ended up recording it, actually, just because, you know, if I'm having a rainy day, I want to watch Bradley Yawn be escorted to a jail van. You know, just feels good.

[Mike Boudet]

Naturally, Bradley appealed his conviction and sentenced, and he continues to claim that he's innocent.

[Josh Jones]

He is in the custody of the Department of Corrections. There is an appeal pending. Well, he has an appointed counsel on that appeal. That's still ongoing. You know, I don't think I've gotten a letter from Mr. Yan in quite a while, and I'm okay with that. He's. I think he's. As far as I know, he's still claiming that he's innocent of the crime.

[Mike Boudet]

Since being incarcerated, Bradley has reached out to several people who had some involvement with his case. This includes Muddy River News editor David Adam.

[David Adam]

Bradley Yan has reached out to Me, I think four times with letters from the prison that he is in, and they're a little lengthy. He kind of goes around in circles. And one of them I remember vividly because it started out kind of like, hey, how you doing? I haven't been able to keep up with you much. I'm not really sure why I would keep up with you because you wrote stuff about me in the trial. It just wasn't true. So I have no idea why I'm trying to be nice to you. Just in, like, those few paragraphs, he went from, you know, trying to have a civil conversation with somebody to, well, you weren't on my side, so therefore, you're just as much of a part of the problem as everybody else was. I will say this about Bradley Yon. I'm not sure if Bradleyon will ever have the opportunity to listen to this podcast, but what I would tell him, I would be fascinated to just sit there and find out what makes him tick. I don't think me talking to him and letting him try to convince me how he's been wronged, I'm just not interested in it. I just don't see it. But I do want to find out a little bit about him and why he is what he is.

[Mike Boudet]

Bradley also continued to write letters to Tina's family. In those letters, he continued to spew the same nonsensical conspiracy theories and bullshit.

[Carly Lohman]

My brother, Derek Lohman, did receive a letter from Bradley. Yawn. And he didn't do it. My mom was a liar, I'm a liar, my sister's a liar, and that he's going to write a book, he's going to change laws. He. He's gonna be something big. That's kind of the gist of the letter that he wrote my brother.

[Mike Boudet]

Despite all that happened, Bradley has clearly learned nothing. Some people just refuse to improve, refuse to adapt and become, oh, I don't know, human. Some people can't see past their ego and look deep into their soul to figure out who the hell they actually are. It's too painful. It's too terrifying. So the ego sits there and shields against all those unpleasant thoughts that we have, telling us how much of a monster we are. Isn't that right, Bradley? Bradley's not only not learned anything, he seems to be the same old Bradley. He's always been delusional, narcissistic, and just plain cruel.

[Carly Lohman]

Been really hard for every one of the children. Another great grandchild came in the year after she passed. So it's really hard to not have my mom there to witness it. Another grandbaby for her to hold. You know, the holidays aren't the same. We've had to redo everything. I mean, our whole. My whole life has changed completely. I saw and spoke to my mom every single day. My business was next to her business. And, you know, I now have to live with her absence. And it's really, really, really difficult to move on some days.

[Mike Boudet]

When it came to sentencing, things went about as well as they could have gone for Tina's family. But none of it changed the fact that Tina is gone from their lives forever.

[Heidi Lohman]

Life has been very different without my grandma. It's weird. I still have voicemails on my phone from her just so that, like, I can remember what her voice sounds like.

[Josh Jones]

Carly, it's Grandma.

[Carly Lohman]

I'm out in front of your house.

[Josh Jones]

But it looks like you're not home. I love you. I'll come see baby tomorrow. Bye.

[Carly Lohman]

Carly is Grandma. I'm down here.

[Josh Jones]

I came to see the baby that.

[Heidi Lohman]

Your mom said all your friends are.

[Mike Boudet]

Up there, so I don't want to.

[Josh Jones]

Put too many people in the room. I love you. I'll come see you tomorrow. If you need anything, call me.

[Heidi Lohman]

Bye. Christmas is so hard for all of us. Everything is hard without her, you know, and especially what's hard is watching my mom have to grieve her mom. And it's really taken. It's taken. Taken a giant toll on. On my mom. A physical toll, mental toll. And it's just hard to watch your mom go through that. Like, I just put myself in her shoes. I'm like, wow. Like if this happened to her, I would lose my damn mind. But we're adjusting and I think the main part that's hard is just I hope she knows that she got justice. I hope that she was able somehow to see that this guy is going away like he had 137 years for what he did to you.

[Mike Boudet]

Unlike Bradley, Carly has empathy. She can put herself in her mom's and her aunt's shoes. She can recognize how painful and life changing this situation would be for Tina's children.

[Carly Lohman]

Me as a person, I don't feel as safe in Quincy. I don't stop to help people as much. I don't expect anyone to help me. I have changed completely. I watch everyone that goes by my business, by my home. We have cameras up everywhere. We have taken on a whole different look on life. And that means that you have to look at everything and be just more aware.

[Heidi Lohman]

But it's just changed My whole life, I don't go out at night anymore. I will not stop on the side of the road, nor will I help other people on the side of the road, which is a sad reality, but you just never know who's going to be on the other side.

[Mike Boudet]

In Quincy, Illinois, the trial of Bradley Yawn was a high profile case. A lot of people followed it and they learned a few harsh truths about their city and the world we live in.

[David Adam]

Sadly, I think the moral of the story is you need to protect yourself. The world isn't as kind and caring of a place as we once thought that it was. You asked me at the beginning of this interview, do I think Quincy's a safe place to live? And I said yes. And I still believe that. But I also realize, especially as I've gone through other court cases and you see what people are capable of doing. I mean, she was just a nice, sweet person. She was just hoping for someone to just help her figure out what was going on with her car. And she relied on the goodness of others. You realize that there are people out there who are willing to do just about anything. And if it means that I need money, I need drugs, they'll do anything. And I think that's kind of what happened here to Bradley Yon. He just. He needed whatever it was he thought he could get from her. You just. You can't be as trusting. I wish that wasn't the moral of the story. I wish it was a more positive moral of the story out of it. Maybe it should be. Be sure to tell your parents you love them every day because you never know the day that you're not going to see them again. You know, I wish it could be something else more positive, but unfortunately, the moral of the story as I see it is you just can't trust people as much as you used to.

[Mike Boudet]

David is correct, which is unfortunate. The world can be a dangerous place, and we have to do whatever we can to protect ourselves and our families. Though, if you look around hard enough at this case, you can find a silver lining. When something horrible like this does happen, justice can be served. It takes a long time and a lot of work, but it can be done. That said, if you're counting on the government or the law to protect you, you're just deluding yourself. The law is just a bunch of words that any one of us could choose to ignore.

[Carly Lohman]

Well, it's a community problem. I mean, Bradley Yaum was mistakenly released from St. Charles county for a clerical error. It's a huge problem. And we can't do anything about that or have them held responsible because they have immunity. And then Karen Blackledge, on the day of the attack, she was in court with three different judges for four times, and she got to walk out of that courtroom. The vehicle that they stole before they got to my mom, her court papers were actually in that vehicle. So it's just ridiculous that no one held them accountable for the crimes they committed before they even got to my mom. It's a huge mistake.

[Mike Boudet]

Bradley Yawn. And Karen Blackledge had no business being on the streets. And the first place, as it often does, the criminal justice system failed. And Tina Loman paid the ultimate price for that failure.

[Heidi Lohman]

I think what we can learn from this is, and I'm not going to victim blame here, because what happened to my grandma is not her fault whatsoever, but I think just to be cautious, always have like some kind of protection on you, whether that's like pepper spray, something just like, you never know who's has good intentions or not. And especially like older people, like from my grandma's generation. And, you know, they come from a time where you could trust people that pulled over to help you on the side of the road, and people did help you. And I think what we can learn is to protect those vulnerable people of our society, which is the elderly. You know, teach them how to use pepper spray. Teach them, hey, this world we live in is, can be kind of messed up. There's people like Bradley Yonn and Karen Blackledge out there, and I think that's what we want to take away from, like doing podcasts and stuff is just kind of informative. Like, this happened to my grandma. This could happen to anyone.

[Mike Boudet]

Tina Loman's life was so much more than how it ended. We are all so much more than our worst day on earth. Tina was a beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who loved running a business and helping her customers. She enjoyed red wine and watching Star Trek with her husband. She loved Christmas and giving people gifts and seeing the light of gratitude shine in their eyes. But more than anything, Tina loved her family. Tragically, at the age of 77, she endured a horrific and brutal assault. That assault ended her life. It took her away from her family. It took her away from this earth. The Tina Lohman case doesn't have the most upgrade beat moral lesson, but we can learn from is a cautionary tale. Beware of your surroundings. Do the reasonable things to protect yourself and your family. Because sadly, the world we live in is just not as safe as we'd like it to Special thanks once again to Tina Lohman's family. They have been instrumental in helping us tell this story, and it is evident that Tina's selfless nature has been passed on. It is our hope, and their hope, that the retelling of her story may help someone somewhere in the future. Please stay safe out there and keep those close to you safe as well. If you like the show, please visit swordandscale.com for more information. The show was created by myself, Mike Boudet. It was written and produced by Michael Stabile, engineered by Rob Revelli. Special thanks to Spreaker, Apple and Spotify, as well as all our sponsors. We appreciate you, the listener as well. Thank you for joining us. We'll see you next time.