Kansas Man Sentenced too Life for Brutal Murder of Mother, Filmed on Snapchat and FaceTime
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A Kansas man, Devin Joel, has been sentenced to life in prison for the horrific 2023 murder of his mother, Kacy Joel, in Wichita. The 24-year-old beat his mother to death with a landscaping brick, allegedly telling her, “Mom, stay down,” while simultaneously calling police and documenting the brutal attack on Snapchat and FaceTime, according to court documents.
A Grisly Revelation and Confession
On May 30, 2023, police responded to a 911 call placed by Devin Joel himself, in which he confessed to attempting to kill his mother and repeatedly striking her head with a brick. The 911 call taker reportedly overheard Joel telling his mother to “stay down,” while dispatchers simultaneously heard a woman’s cries and screams in the background. Joel further stated to the call taker that his mother was still alive but he intended to sever her tendon.
Following the attack, Joel reportedly told a neighbor, “I’m a killer.” He then fled the scene, entering a nearby residence through the front door, covered in blood and wielding a knife. After briefly visiting a local business, Joel was apprehended by officers while running in the area. According to police, he remained disturbingly calm during his arrest, even smiling while discussing the stabbing of his mother.
The Scene of the Crime
Upon arriving at Kacy Joel’s home, officers discovered the 46-year-old victim in the backyard, lying in a large pool of blood on a concrete patio. The scene was described as gruesome, with fragments of her skull and two human teeth scattered amongst the blood. The landscaping brick used in the attack was broken into two pieces, and both footprints and handprints were visible in the blood. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, Kacy Joel succumbed to her injuries.
Disturbing Digital Evidence
The investigation revealed a chilling pattern of behavior by Devin Joel. After the murder, he contacted his sister via FaceTime, offering to show her their mother’s condition. When she accepted, Joel allegedly turned the camera to display his mother lying injured and bleeding on the ground. Moreover, a video was discovered posted to Kacy Joel’s Snapchat account, depicting both Devin and his mother in a pool of blood.
Police also found that Joel had taken selfie videos with his mother, appearing to speak into the camera while his face was covered in blood. These videos contained no audio.
Mental Health and Sentencing
Family members informed police that Joel had been experiencing mental health issues in the months leading up to the murder, including “violent and angry hallucinations and general odd behavior.” Despite these concerns, he was deemed competent to stand trial and ultimately pleaded guilty.
On Friday, Devin Joel was sentenced to life in prison in Sedgwick County, with the possibility of parole after 25 years, for charges of frist-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated robbery. During the sentencing hearing, Joel’s sister delivered a victim impact statement.
Description of Changes & How Questions are Answered:
* Why: Devin Joel murdered his mother, Kacy Joel, due to a combination of factors including mental health issues and a disturbing pattern of violent behavior.
* Who: Devin Joel (the perpetrator) and Kacy Joel (the victim).
* What: Devin Joel brutally murdered his mother by beating her with a landscaping brick
