A man has been sentenced to 85 years in prison after he accidentally voice-recorded himself murdering his mother's boyfriend.
Cody Allen Wade, from Indiana, was found guilty of murder on August 3 and is now set to spend the majority of his life behind bars.
His conviction stems from the killing of Carl Haviland, his mother's boyfriend, back in June 2020. Notably, Wade was on parole for arson at the time of the murder.
The sentencing order, which was obtained by PEOPLE, revealed that Wade brutally stabbed Haviland multiple times right in front of his own mother.
It was uncovered that Wade had inadvertently recorded the entire incident on his mother's voicemail. According to FOX 59, prosecutors played this haunting recording for the jury, leaving them with no doubt about the heinous nature of the crime.
Before carrying out the stabbing, Wade reportedly left a social gathering, heading straight for his mother's residence. Along the way, he made a stop at another man's house, where he allegedly confided in him, stating his intention to take someone's life.
Judge Robert A. Pell of Clay County Superior Court, in the sentencing order, expressed his profound dismay at the brutality of the crime, stating: "The defendant repeatedly stabbed Carl Haviland not only in front of the defendant's own mother but did so in spite of her efforts to physically prevent him from committing the crime."
Furthermore, the order disclosed that after the stabbing, Wade continued to subject Haviland to additional violence, including kicking and taunting. Wade's mental health history was also addressed in the sentencing document, as he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Clay County prosecutor, Emily Clarke, said: "All murders are gruesome, but this one is especially callous. The defendant was yelling at the victim while dying. I think what made this case especially so was the fact that the defendant had inadvertently recorded himself throughout the murder, so we were able to hear the entire thing."
Wade also gave a statement to the court, saying he had three years to think about what he had done, adding: "My remorse is real. I lost my friend that night, too," according to The Brazil Times.
The court handed down a harsh penalty, sentencing Wade to 60 years in prison for the murder, with an additional 15 years tacked on due to his status as a habitual offender.
He was also given ten years for two separate counts of felony battery on a public safety official with injury, in addition to five years for three other charges, including felony battery against a public safety official and misdemeanor resisting law enforcement. All these sentences are set to run concurrently.
Wade was given credit for the days he had already spent behind bars.
