Man Who KIlled His Cousin's Great-Grandmother with a Sledgehammer Gets Life in Prison

Going against the recommendation of a jury, a judge in Washington County Monday sentenced a man to life in prison without parole for murdering his cousin's great-grandmother three years ago.

Micus Ward was convicted last month for using a sledgehammer to kill Jacqueline Bell, a woman he had never met until the day before he killed her.

Ward was in Cedar Mill visiting his cousin Joda Cain who was staying with Bell, his great-grandmother. She had moved Cain to Cedar Mill so he could attend Sunset High School.

Cain was convicted of manslaughter last year.

When Ward was convicted, the jury had recommended life in prison with a chance for parole.

The judge disagreed.

The prosecutor painted a violent picture of Ward, saying he's never shown remorse, has a criminal record going back years, and had even assaulted other inmates at the Washington County Jail.