A 21-year-old man convicted of attempted murder in a machete attack near Keystone has been sentenced to life without parole, in addition to several consecutive years.
The Summit Daily reports Tyrus Vanmatre was sentenced Thursday after his original October sentencing date got pushed back by a motion for a retrial from the defense. Vanmatre was found guilty of attempted murder, kidnapping and other charges in connection to the June 2014 attack on Jadon Jellis.
An arrest affidavit says Jellis told police Vanmatre had invited him to come with him and a teen to rob a home in Summit County.
"After arriving in Summit County, Vanmatre lured the victim into the woods near Sapphire Point on Swan Mountain Road, in unincorporated Summit County. After arriving at a predetermined location, Vanmatre began to attack the victim with a machete," the sheriff's office wrote. "The victim was able to fight back and ultimately escaped Vanmatre’s attack. Due to the night darkness, the victim was able to hide and elude Vanmatre's searching."
The then 18-year-old victim was found covered in blood and stumbling along Swan Mountain Road east of Sapphire Point at 3 a.m., the sheriff's office said. He had multiple obvious lacerations to his face.
Vanmatre's attorney argued that his client had consumed acid and didn't plan the attack in malice.
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