Michigan

Monty Menefee sentenced to life in prison without parole for murder of his mother

A 47-year-old Berrien County man was sentenced Monday, Oct. 5, to life in prison without parole after he admitted to killing his 79-year-old mother in Coloma, Mich., earlier this year.

Monty Menefee pleaded guilty in August to first degree murder for the April 24 murder of Lavonne Monta.

During his sentencing hearing Monday, Judge Gary Bruce said that Monta’s murder was not a mercy killing, as Menefee had said before, according to 95.3 MNC’s news partners ABC 57.

“It was deliberate. It was premeditated. It was brutal,” Bruce said.

Menefee apologized to his family during the hearing.

Menefee stabbed Monta several times at a home in Coloma, Mich., and then ran from police for days, stealing vehicles and breaking into a home. He was arrested in Ohio on April 28. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors agreed to drop a habitual traffic violator charge and not charge him for other crimes he committed following the murder.

He confessed to the killing in interviews with police. He told police he did it because he was struggling financially and hoped his mother’s life insurance would go to his wife.

Menefee was also ordered to pay $11,000 in restitution.

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