Granddaughter says family satisfied with plea bargain.

By MADELINE BUCKLEY
Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND — While watching the man who brutally murdered her grandfather plead guilty, Brandi Miller felt nothing but relief.

Adam Chrzan, 28, accepted a plea bargain Thursday, pleading guilty to felony murder in the death of William Fields, Chrzan’s 86-year-old neighbor who was found beaten and stabbed in his Mishawaka home in January.

“We didn’t want the case to go to trial,” Miller said. “I, especially, because I am the one who found him. I know what the pictures are in my head and I don’t want everyone to see that.”

Chrzan’s plea comes with a binding sentence of 65 years in prison in lieu of a trial, in which he could have faced life without parole, if convicted.

Charges of robbery and burglary were dropped.

Miller, along with about 13 other family members, including Field’s two sons, tearfully watched the proceedings.

She said she and her family discussed the different sentencing possibilities beforehand and concluded Chrzan received a fair plea bargain.

“We’re very satisfied with the sentence because he had to say he was guilty,” she said. “Accepting the plea is accepting the guilt.

“And in a jury trial, you never know. Just the thought of the slightest chance of him walking out of this was scary,” she added.

Although Chrzan admitted his guilt, Miller said, he seemed to show no remorse.

“Every time I’ve seen him in court, he shows no emotions whatsoever,” she said. “No regret or anything.”

Miller said the only interactions her grandfather ever had with Chrzan were when he tried to borrow money.

“It was very hard to be in there,” she said. “But it does feel like a weight has been lifted. It’s like we’re closing this chapter and now we have to figure out how to move on.”

Staff writer Alicia Gallegos contributed to this report.

Staff writer Madeline Buckley:
mbuckley@sbtinfo.com
(574) 235-6358