Great-grandma killer gets life without parole

HILLSBORO, Ore. (KOIN) – A man convicted of aggravated murder was formally sentenced on Monday for killing his cousin’s great-grandmother with a sledgehammer.

Micus Ward, whose IQ is 59, was convicted of aggravated murder for the 2013 killing of 71-year-old Jacqueline Bell earlier this year. The jury came back with a recommended sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

His lawyers hoped for life with the possibility of parole.

But at the sentencing Monday, the judge handed Ward a life without parole sentence. Ward declined to address the court before sentencing.

Jodah Cain and Ward killed Bell in her Cedar Mill home.

Cain was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role after accepting a plea deal with prosecutors.