Daniel Olaska sentenced in stabbing death of Shaun Wild at Naperville bar

WHEATON, Ill. (WLS) -- Daniel Olaska was sentenced to 43 years in prison in the stabbing death of elementary school teacher Shaun Wild in a Naperville bar.

Olaska was found guilty in March. The jury reached the verdict after a day of deliberations. The verdict hinged on whether jurors thought Olaska acted in anger or in self-defense.

Wild's family has waited more than three years for this. Wild, a 24-year-old elementary school teacher, died after being stabbed inside Frankie's Blue Room, a downtown Naperville nightclub. A jury had already found Olaska, 31, guilty of the murder.

"We live it every day, the loss to our family is a lifetime loss, and we understand that," said Bruce Wild, the victim's father.

In court Olaska addressed the judge and Wild's family, saying, "I never wanted to hurt anybody and I certainly never meant to kill Shaun Wild. I am truly sorry and offer prayers of healing and comfort to everyone impacted by my actions."

"He did not seek out Mr. Wild, he did not attack him, it was the other way around," said Ernie DiBenedetto, defense attorney.

"This could have been prevented had this defendant never brought a knife into the bar," said Bob Berlin, DuPage County State's Attorney.

Prosecutors had video footage of the entire incident from surveillance cameras inside the bar. They argued Olaska was upset over being snubbed by a girl at the bar. Wild's family addressed the court, speaking of their loss and the bright future Wild had.

"Shaun was a great young man and had a great future," Bruce Wild said.

The jury found Olaska not guilty of two counts of attempted murder for the stabbings that wounded the two other men.