Michigan pastor Albert Weather sentenced to eight years in prison for killing transgender woman – then telling police it was the result of a robbery

A Michigan pastor was sentenced to eight years in prison for fatally shooting a transgender woman in Detroit, as the victim’s family issued damning impact statements.

Albert Weathers, 50, was convicted last week of murdering Kelly Stough, 36, in 2018.

Weathers pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and a firearms charge. A plea deal with prosecutors allowed for a maximum of eight years for the murder and two years for the felony charge.

The victim’s mother, Jessica Williams, said she was grateful for the resolution of the case. But the killer who left Stough “on the street, thrown away like trash,” tore up.

‘She had the courage to withstand it all and live her truth her way, without excuses or regrets. Unlike yourself, Weathers, you killed my child to try to hide your shame and fear of who you really are,” she said.

Albert Weathers pleaded guilty to manslaughter for killing the transgender woman

Patricia Hale, the victim’s grandmother, told the guilty pastor, “But I pray for God’s blessing on you. You know the Word, you know what you’ve done. Ask for forgiveness and I hope it comes.”

According to testimony, Stough’s body was found around 6 a.m. on December 7, 2018.

After the shooting, Weathers went to his job in downtown Detroit, where he worked as a security guard. About an hour later, he called police to report the incident as a robbery.

Weathers, who was also a pastor at Logos Church in Detroit, told authorities he shot Stough in self-defense, although he also claimed the shooting was an accident.

He initially told investigators, “I was protecting myself.” But later claimed his gun “accidentally went off.”

According to Weathers, he only grabbed his .40-caliber Glock after Stough jumped into his car and demanded cash. He claimed he told her to get out of the car, at which point Stough came at him with a sharp metal object.

Prosecutors argued that the pastor knew Stough and had frequently visited the area where the shooting occurred. The area is frequented by sex workers and their clientele.

Stough was born Tristian Stough and played college football before dropping out to pursue a career in fashion.

The precise motivation behind Weathers’ shooting of the victim remains unclear.

Stough’s mother (left) and grandmother (right) provided victim statements memorializing their relatives and devastating Weathers

Weathers, 50, remained emotionless throughout the sentencing. An assistant prosecutor said she believed it was unclear whether Weathers understood the severity of his actions

When Weathers entered his guilty plea earlier this summer, Williams said she was relieved to hear her child’s killer acknowledged his actions.

‘I was happy, I just wanted to hear him admit it. Did you pray with her before you left her like trash on the street? At least you held her hand and told her you were sorry,” she said.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement that Stough “will not be forgotten. She mattered. We will continue to aggressively prosecute those who harm this and other communities in Wayne County.”

She added that Weathers’ punishment is another step her office has taken to defend members of the marginalized transgender community.

Weathers declined to make a statement in court last week

Lisa Lindsey, one of the assistant prosecutors who handled the case, said she remains unsure that Weathers realized the seriousness of his actions.

“Even though he has pleaded guilty to this crime, I still do not believe, based on the preliminary investigation and based on what I have heard during the custodial sentences, that the suspect fully understands what he did that morning.”

Weathers remained stoic throughout the hearing and did not speak on his behalf. His attorney reviewed the facts of the case and the police report that followed before hearing from the judge.

The pastor has until October 9 to turn himself in.