Minneapolis woman sentenced in Thanksgiving Day murder

A Minneapolis woman was sentenced to 74 months in prison for murdering Edward Caliph, 69, on Thanksgiving Day in 2017, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Wednesday.

Anenia Marie Hare, 49, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and was sentenced on Friday to 74 months in prison.

According to the criminal complaint, police were dispatched to an apartment building in the 5700 block of 33rd Avenue South on Thanksgiving. The officers who responded found Caliph face down near a broken window and there were other signs of a struggle. He was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.

Hare told police she had invited Caliph over for Thanksgiving dinner, but before they had started to eat, she looked over and saw him lighting up a crack pipe. She was angry because he didn’t ask for permission and did not offer to share.

In court on Friday, several of Mr. Caliph’s family members gave impact statements. His niece said she was devastated when she heard the news. “He never missed a holiday so we knew something was wrong… He wasn’t perfect, but he was ours. And he won’t be here anymore to eat all our food, like he always did,’ which made his family members laugh. His brother said Edward had served in the Vietnam war. “He deserved better… It was an avoidable fight and the defendant’s actions led to his death.”

Before being sentenced, Hare said Mr. Caliph was her friend and someone she enjoyed spending time with. She tearfully said she takes full responsibility for her actions and hopes one day the family can forgive her.