Judge Sentenced Convicted Killer to Life in Prison
Joseph Stevens received two consecutive life sentences for the 2005 murders of Dernae and Naemon Wysinger.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Criminal Justice
A San Francisco Superior Court judge has sentenced 43-year-old Joseph Stevens to two consecutive terms of life without the possibility of parole. The sentencing marks the conclusion of a long-standing legal case regarding the 2005 shooting deaths of two victims.
Why it matters
The sentencing closes a chapter on a violent 2005 crime that claimed the lives of a 22-year-old and a 2-year-old, following the overturning of an initial 2007 conviction. It highlights the lengthy and complex nature of the city's appellate and retrial processes in high-stakes criminal justice matters.
Joseph Stevens, 43, received two consecutive life sentences for firing 18 shots at a vehicle in 2005, killing 22-year-old Dernae Wysinger and 2-year-old Naemon Wysinger. This sentencing follows the reversal of his 2007 conviction by a higher court.
The players
Joseph Stevens
The 43-year-old man convicted of the 2005 double murder in San Francisco.
San Francisco Superior Court
The local judicial body that presided over the trial and final sentencing.
The details
During the 2005 incident, Stevens approached a parked vehicle and fired 18 shots with a high-powered rifle, killing both victims while the mother of Naemon Wysinger survived. The San Francisco Superior Court handed down the new sentence of two terms of life without parole to be served consecutively. This sentencing concludes the retrial process that began after his previous 2007 conviction was overturned.
Timeline
October 14, 2005: Joseph Stevens murdered Dernae and Naemon Wysinger.
2007: Stevens received an initial conviction for the murders.
September/October 2026: A judge sentenced Stevens to two life terms.
Across the Bay
This case follows a path seen in other high-profile local retrials where legal procedural challenges delay finality for decades. The sentencing serves as an update to the 2007 conviction that was previously overturned by a higher court.
This sentencing brings a close to the court proceedings for a crime that occurred in the city in 2005. Residents can follow the San Francisco Superior Court public record for any future appellate filings regarding this case.
The takeaway
The case illustrates the complex journey of criminal prosecutions through the city's appellate system. Follow future updates from the San Francisco Superior Court to track the finality of long-standing cold cases or overturned convictions.
Further reading
For more on how local cases move through the courts, visit Criminal Justice.
