ROCHESTER, N.Y. – On Wednesday, 54-year-old Troy Parker was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison for the murder of Fantasia Stone. 

He was also sentenced concurrently to 25 years in state prison, plus five years of post-release supervision, for arson at Stone’s apartment building on Jefferson Avenue. 

Parker was previously convicted by a jury of murder in the second degree and arson in the second degree.

On April 11, 2023, Rochester Police Officers and Rochester Firefighters were called to an apartment building on Jefferson Avenue for a structure fire where 38-year-old Stone, was found on fire inside the building. She died from her injuries.

Weeks later, Parker was arrested for the murder. Police say following an argument, Parker doused Fantasia Stone with an accelerant and intentionally set her on fire, killing her.

Assistant District Attorney Patrick Gallagher said in his closing argument, that Parker took advantage of Stone, a mother of five. 

“Fantasia had a hard life, she had a drug addiction, and the defendant abused that addiction; he took advantage of it. He used her. He used her to sell drugs on his behalf. He used her for sex, and when he didn’t get his way, he got rid of her,” Gallagher said.

This sentence is the maximum sentence he could get for these charges in New York State.

“Like the judge said, if he could get more time in prison, he deserves it for his action. Hopefully he dies in prison, that’s what he deserves for what he did to Fantasia,” said Gallagher.

Judge Michael Dollinger said if he were able, he’d sentence Parker to run the murder and arson charges consecutively, instead of concurrently.

Parker turned down an opportunity to address the court on Wednesday. 

But, one of Stone’s five daughters Ariana spoke briefly. Ariana said her mother will never be able to see her and her sisters grow up. She added her gratitude for the justice system.

Two investigators from Rochester Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit, shared their reactions to the sentence.

“It’s actually horrific, thinking about those last moments, her trying to escape that building and as she’s running towards him he lights her more and more on fire. It’s horrible,” said Investigator Matt Klein.

Investigator Jason Leckinger spoke with Parker at length in an interrogation video, shown during the trial.

“I would say this wasn’t just murder and arson, it was torture and arson. I mean, she died in tortured death laying there, screaming for her life,” said Leckinger.

Parker’s defense attorney Robert Bahr asked for a lower sentence. In his closing argument on Wednesday, he said Parker had a tough life and upbringing. His father left him when he was three years-old. Bahr added that Parker struggled with mental health and addiction for years.