An Iowa Teenager Wanted to ‘Take Charge of His Life.’ So He Stabbed His Dad and Axed His Mom to Death.

A teenager in Iowa admitted to killing his parents in 2021 and now he has been sentenced to life in prison.

In October 2021, police arrived at a home in Cedar Rapids and found Ethan Alexander Orton sitting outside the home covered in blood.

Inside the residence, officers found the bodies of his parents, Misty Scott-Slade and Casey Orton.

Orton admitted to police that he stabbed and killed them in order to “take charge of his life.” Officials said he also used an axe to kill his mother after she appeared to have survived the initial stabbing.

Orton was arrested at the time and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. His defense initially filed a Motion for Competency Evaluation claiming Orton was suffering from a mental disorder that prevented him from appreciating the charge.

However, a medical evaluation was completed and found Orton competent to stand trial. His defense team then submitted a Notice of Defense of Insanity/Diminish Responsibility to the court in January 2022. In February 2022, the trial was delayed.

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In February 2023, Orton pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, which carries a minimum sentence of life in prison.

Orton will have to serve at least 50 years in prison before being eligible for parole.