A Louisiana man, Jerry Gelpi, 42, has been sentenced to life plus 40 years.
This punishment is for the brutal stabbing of his neighbor, whom he claimed was a "demon."
Gelpi was convicted of first-degree murder and obstruction of justice for the February 2021 killing of 68-year-old Charles Davis.
During sentencing, Judge Frank Brindisi of the 24th Judicial District Court addressed Gelpi.
"Mr. Gelpi, you’re going where you deserve to be. You accused this man of being a demon. You were the only demon that day," the judge said.
Prosecutors revealed that at the time of the murder, Davis, a forklift driver, was still recovering from a severe bout with COVID-19.
This condition left him "severely weakened" and dependent on oxygen.
Gelpi lived in the apartment below Davis in the same complex.
On February 8, 2021, Gelpi, entered his neighbor’s home and attacked him in the bathroom.
During the altercation, Gelpi stabbed Davis in the neck, knocking the sink off the wall.
Davis was then either pushed or fell into the bathtub, where Gelpi continued the assault, stabbing him at least 16 times.
After the attack, Gelpi reportedly washed his hands in Davis’s kitchen sink and returned to his own apartment.
He then tried to cover up the crime by discarding his bloody clothes and the murder weapon in the Mississippi River.
Davis's daughter discovered her father’s body in the bathtub on the morning of February 9, 2021.
Prosecutors said his body was curled in a fetal position, and his wallet was missing.
Further investigation found Gelpi’s DNA under Davis's fingernails and on the kitchen faucet where he had washed his hands.
Authorities also uncovered internet searches on Gelpi’s computer related to knife fighting and stabbing vital organs like the kidneys, heart, and lungs.
Throughout his trial, Gelpi maintained a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
He claimed he was "the son of God" and that Davis was "the strongest demon" he had ever encountered.
Despite this defense, the jury took less than 30 minutes to reach a guilty verdict, according to NOLA.com.
Gelpi's defense attorney was not available for comment.
In another case, a woman was fatally shot after she attacked an officer with a knife and slashed his face.
Click here for more details on that case.
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