Final sentencing was held Wednesday in Christian Circuit Court for the man who pleaded guilty but mentally ill for the 2015 shooting death of Justin Fish.
David Markle is facing 30 years in prison for murder, and he spoke to the family of Fish during sentencing, apologizing and saying he hopes they’re able to find a way to forgive him one day.
Rhonda Fish, the mother of Justin Fish, told him her life changed the night her son was murdered, and it will never be the same again. She says she was shocked when she found out Markle was the killer—he and Fish had been best friends and were inseparable. She spoke about Fish’s daughter, who will now have to live without her father and her family, who will live without a son, a brother and a friend.
Circuit Judge Andrew Self says no one may ever understand the why of the killing and he sentenced Markle to 30 years in prison.
Markle must serve 20 years of that sentence before becoming eligible for parole, and the guilty but mentally ill plea he took does mean he will receive some type of mental health treatment while in custody.