Former Chicago Man Sentenced to Natural Life for Stabbing Death of Girlfriend
Launden Luckett, formerly of Chicago, has been sentenced to two terms of natural life in the Illinois Department of Corrections, without the possibility of parole.
“THIS MORNING LAUNDEN LUCKETT LEARNED THAT FOR THE BRUTAL, VICIOUS MURDER OF CECILY DICKEY, HE WILL BE REMOVED FROM SOCIETY FOR THE REST OF HIS NATURAL LIFE, THE ONLY APPROPRIATE SENTENCE,” BOB BERLIN SAID.
WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that Launden Luckett, 34 (d.o.b. 11/30/1987), formerly of Chicago, has been sentenced to two terms of natural life in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) without the possibility of parole for the stabbing death of his girlfriend in 2015. Luckett was also sentenced to an additional consecutive twenty-five years in the IDOC for armed robbery. Luckett appeared at his sentencing hearing this morning in front of Judge Jeffrey MacKay who handed down the sentence. Judge MacKay’s earlier finding that the murder was accompanied by exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty exposed Luckett to a sentence of natural life in prison. On November 22, 2021, after approximately two hours of deliberations following a five-day-long trial, a jury found Luckett guilty of First-Degree Murder.
On October 19, 2015, officers with the Woodridge Police Department discovered the deceased body of Cecily Dickey in her apartment while conducting a well-being check. She had been repeatedly stabbed and choked. An investigation into the murder conducted by the Woodridge Police Department found that on the evening of October 16, 2015, Dickey drove to Chicago, picked up Luckett and brought him back to her apartment. In the early morning hours the following morning, a verbal argument ensued between Dickey and Luckett. As the argument turned physical in nature, Dickey ran to the bathroom in an attempt to get away from Luckett. Luckett chased after her and stabbed her in the stomach. Dickey then ran out of the bathroom at which time Luckett grabbed her, knocked her to the floor, continued to stab her, and choked her as well. Following the murder, Luckett stole Dickey’s cellular phone, debit card and car and fled the scene. On December 15, 2015, Luckett, who was in custody in Cook County on unrelated charges, was charged with Dickey’s murder. An autopsy concluded the cause of Dickey’s death was multiple stab wounds. On December 16, 2015, Luckett appeared in Bond Court where he was ordered to be held without bond. He has remained in custody at the DuPage County Jail since that time.
“This morning Launden Luckett learned that for the brutal, vicious murder of Cecily Dickey, he will be removed from society for the rest of his natural life, the only appropriate sentence,” Berlin said. “Violent crime in its rawest form, as displayed by Mr. Luckett in this case, has an obvious effect on the victim and surviving family members. Additionally, these crimes affect the entire community representing not just a loss of a friend or a neighbor, but also a loss of safety and security. I wish Cecily’s family and friends continued strength and fond memories of Cecily as they close the book on this horrible chapter of their lives. I thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Nancy Donahoe, Lee Roupas and Matthew Dambach for their efforts in ensuring that justice was served in the memory of Cecily Dickey.”
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