Ax Maker Sentenced In Dancer's Murder: COURT

WEST COVINA, CA — The West Covina ax maker who murdered a 27-year-old professional dancer with an ax and dumped his body in a remote area of Azusa Canyon was sentenced Monday to 26 years to life in prison.

Phillip Von Wade, 22, pleaded no contest in April to first-degree murder in the Sept. 5, 2016, killing of Rahkeem "Rocky" Reyes.

Prosecutors said Reyes -- an acquaintance of Wade's -- had commissioned him to create a Batman costume for the annual Comic-Con convention, and Wade had missed the deadline and a second deadline was approaching without the costume being completed.

Wade lured Reyes to his home, where he killed him with an ax. Reyes' body was discovered 2 1/2 miles up Azusa Canyon five days later.

Reyes was a professional dancer who had appeared in several dance videos, movies and commercials, in addition to live stage performances, according to a family friend.

Wade's instagram page remains up at this time, where those who knew Reyes and Wade have shared comments on the crime.

Los Angeles County District Attorney file photo