Florida Inmate Laughs in Court After Killing Cellmate With Pen, His 3-Word Reply to Judge Stuns Court

A Florida prisoner received a life sentence for brutally stabbing his cellmate to death. During a court hearing on April 21, he reportedly giggled as he received the sentence. According to NBC Miami, he used a pen to stab his cellmate in the brain.

Marcus Terry, 43, received a life sentence for the second time for killing Ray Matos, 64. The incident occurred in 2021 inside the Dade Correctional Institution. He was found guilty of second-degree murder in December 2025.

Terry’s attorney, Steven Yermish, asked Judge Ellen Sue Venzer for a new trial, citing inadmissible evidence that made its way into the initial trial. However, the judge denied the motion and sentenced him to life in prison.

Venzer told the courtroom, “He shoved a pillowcase into his mouth. When the guards came in to find out what was going on, he was standing on top of this man, and his hand was bloodied.” As the judge recounted the details of the killing, Terry reportedly laughed and smiled.

“I’m not sure why you’re laughing,” the judge told him. In response, Terry said, “You are amusing.” Venzer replied, “I found nothing amusing about your behavior or the death of this gentleman. God have mercy on your soul.”

Venzer sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole. However, Terry is allowed to appeal the sentence, according to NBC Miami. The outlet also reported that Terry was found sitting on the lower bunk of his cell while Matos, who had been his cellmate for less than a week, was lying in a pool of blood.

According to the outlet, Terry was already serving a life sentence for armed robbery and burglary at the Dade Correctional Institution when he killed Matos. He first attacked his cellmate with a pillow, forcing it into his mouth, before proceeding to stab him in the head with a pen.

According to NBC, Matos was also serving a life sentence.