WARSAW — “No matter what anybody says I did not commit this crime,” stated Brandon Thomas Woody when given an opportunity to make a statement this morning in Kosciusko Circuit Court. This statement brought sounds of disbelief and sarcastic laughs from those in the packed courtroom.

Woody, 24, was sentenced by Judge Michael Reed to serve a total of 120 years at the Indiana Department of Corrections, 60 years each for the Feb. 19, 2015, murders of Joshua Randall Knisley and Tara Lynn Thornburg. The sentences will be served consecutively, making him eligible for parole in 90 years.

Woody plans to appeal the verdict and sentence. It is anticipated Scott Lennox and Joe Sobek, co-counsel in Woody’s defense, will be appointed to handle the appeal with the Indiana Court of Appeals. The matter will be filed in the next 30 days.

“It is impossible to make sense,” stated Reed. “I won’t belabor the obvious it was cold blooded, premeditated murder. Two young people lost their lives because of you Mr. Woody because you did not want to pay for a small amount of marijuana. You killed two purported friends.”

“I’ve studied the provisions of the code, the criteria for sentencing,” said Reed. He noted he found no mitigating circumstances, but multiple aggravating circumstances. “The long and short … mandate both sentences be served consecutive and enhanced sentences for your matter. You committed two separate cold blooded premeditated murders.” Reed added the murders were done senselessly and violently.

As in the sentencing of DeHart, almost an hour earlier, Reed referred to Woody’s significant history of criminal and delinquent (juvenile) behavior. He referenced the fact Woody was on probation at the time of the murder and violated the terms of probation and pre-trial release on four separate cases. “Important as anything you maintain your innocence in direct contravention … no remorse for your actions,” Reed said.

The court also noted the presentence investigation report showed he was at a high risk to reoffend. “You’re score was very high. There is no score higher,” Reed stated. “It was a premeditated act, the method only changed. It’s hard to know if Kyle DeHart knew or not, but you took a weapon with you.”

“Heinous is a good word for your actions,” concluded Reed.

Just as in DeHart’s sentencing, Rhonda Bickel, accompanied by her husband, Gary, spoke to the court and to Woody. Bickel summed up her son’s 19 years of life, noting for seven years she tried to have a child before she was blessed with her son and referenced Faith Hill’s song, “How Do I Breathe Without You?” “That is how I feel without Josh,” she stated.

“He was my only child, Brandon. Do you have any idea what I’ve gone through since the night he was murdered? I hope you can hear me Brandon, hear every word of what my life has been like … he was shot execution style in the back of the head while he slept. I’ve asked a million times why, why did you execute my son? He did nothing to you. He was sleeping…”

She told the court and Woody what she went through making funeral arrangements, hearing stories about her son at the viewing, of not seeing him again. She recalled attending the initial hearing and seeing him, looking into “your eyes, you looked back at me for the longest time. I thought I was looking at the devil. You laughed and fist bumped others, it was like it was another day to you.”

“Brandon Woody you are pure evil … you not only murdered my son and Tara, look what you did to our families, your dad and stepmom, your younger brother … evil murderous way you have. Have you thought about what you have done to your own family?” She also stated this is the first time in her life she has ever hated any one.

Bickel brought out Woody’s criminal history and the cases still pending, of watching Woody during the trial and the showing of the videos, photographs, drawings. “You showed no reaction or remorse through any of it. The only time you showed any reaction is when Tara said, ‘Brandon Woody did it …’ only time I saw your head dropped,” indicating to her it was a thought of him being caught.

“You deserve the rest of your life in prison,” she said asking the court to sentence him to the maximum amount of time. So there is “no chance you will ever get out. Josh and Tara deserve justice. Our family deserves justice. The community deserves justice. If you are ever free to live in society, there will be another victim, another family shattered. He even threatened to kill Thomas Hursey, his family and his young daughter. That proves how evil he is … the devil lives within him.”

As with the sentencing of DeHart, Dan Hampton, prosecuting attorney, asked members of the Thornburg and Knisley families to stand and read excerpts from their letters to the court. “With the family, I stand before you asking to sentence Brandon Woody with the most the law allows, not only for the family, but for our community.”