Wiley gets 35 years in death of Airyana Hoffman

QUINCY — Travis Wiley, who was found guilty in November of the first-degree murder of three-month-old Airyana Hoffman in 2018, was given a 35-year prison sentence Friday morning.

Judge Michael Atterberry called the case an “unmitigated tragedy.”

Several family members wore purple to the sentencing, calling attention to domestic violence.

Special Prosecutor Jon Barnard, who also wore a purple tie, asked for a 50 year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections for Wiley.

“He killed an utterly precious, defenseless infant with his hands,” Barnard said.

Public Defender Todd Nelson asked for a sentence of no more than 20 years in prison, calling Wiley “intelligent and industrious” and and still having “much to contribute to society”.

Airyana’s mother, Christina Engle, spoke directly to Wiley during her victim impact statement.

“Airyana will never get to celebrate a birthday or blow out a candle. Instead, we celebrate her birthday at 1:34 pm with one candle and one cupcake,” Engle said. “God may forgive you, but you will never have my forgiveness. I hope you are as haunted as I am for the choices you made.”

During his statement of allocution, Wiley maintained his innocence.

“Not a second goes by when I don’t think about it,”Wiley said. “If I could trade places with her, I would.”

This story will be updated.