A man was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday, without the possibility of parole, for a 2023 murder spree in Las Vegas…..CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Spencer McDonald, 32, killed his grandmother, Dina Vail, 80, Andrew Graden, 43, and a complex maintenance man, Chris Brassard, 45.
On June 27, 2023, at the Rancho De Montana Apartments on Flamingo Road near Durango Drive, McDonald told police he walked into his grandmother’s bedroom with a cosplay sword and a large kitchen knife and attacked her.
According to police, McDonald then waited for Graden to return home and attacked and killed him, too. Complex maintenance worker Chris Brassard became the third victim when he went to check on Vail, after learning a friend had not heard from her for days.
McDonald pleaded guilty, but mentally ill, to all three murders, which means he will need to receive mental health treatment for life.
When asked by the judge if he wanted to comment, McDonald responded, “I can say why it happened. The timing was that of being required to see a psychiatrist in order to reinstate disability income. I was deeply afraid of the side effects.”
In court Tuesday, McDonald’s public defender Anna Clark emphasized she did not want to diminish the victims’ pain, but expressed they were “grateful” for the resolution.
“It takes into account the overwhelming loss,” Clark said. “Both of those statements are true at the same time, that his life has value and their lives have value.”
However, a family member for one victim countered. Wendy Lemieux, sister of Andrew Graden, joined the hearing via Zoom.
“I’d like to start by saying I object to what the defendant’s lawyer just said about the defendant,” Lemieux said. “My family will feel AJ’s absence for the rest of our lives, and this is truly unforgivable. Nothing short of death by stabbing and bludgeoning seems sufficient as punishment for this predator.”
As part of a plea deal, prosecutors dropped the possibility of the death penalty…..CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
