David Markle, the man charged with murder in the 2015 shooting death of Justin Fish, entered a guilty but mentally ill plea to the charge in Christian Circuit Court Wednesday.
The guilty but mentally ill plea to first-degree murder comes with a recommended 30-year sentence, and Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling say he will receive credit for time served along with mental health treatment.
Boling says the family approved of the plea agreement and they are relieved to put the case behind them.
This case has had many delays, multiple attorneys and several mental evaluations throughout the years. The most recent evaluation reported that Markle was mentally ill but was competent to stand trial or accept pleas, according to Boling. Final sentencing was set for January 8. Markle shot Fish to death at his Calvin Drive home in 2015.