Families of victim, shooter offer differing statements on shooter’s character

Family members on both sides of a Thursday, Oct. 23, sentencing hearing for a Butler Township man convicted of third degree murder read nine statements telling opposing tales of the shooter’s character.

Judge Joseph Kubit sentenced Nathan Michael, 29, to 17 to 34 years in prison for the June 24, 2024, death of Joseph Derenzo, 38. A jury found Michael shot Derenzo six times, three times in Michael’s townhome on Spooner Drive and another three times in the garage.

Michael will also pay almost $25,000 in restitution to Derenzo’s family and the Victim Outreach Intervention Center.

Almost all six of the victim impact statements from Derenzo’s family members asked the maximum sentence of 40 years in prison be impos

See Full Page