ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A 25-year-old Dundee man was sentenced to life in prison without parole Monday after pleading guilty to murder charges connected to the deadly stabbings during a home invasion at a York Township home.
Joseph Hall confessed to stabbing 12-year-old Timber Brown and 26-year-old John Brown to death on June 13 in the home on Crane Road.
Timber Brown's mother, Vicki Moore, 31, and the home's 39-year-old owner, James Porter, were critically hurt in the attack. A third adult woman, Moore's friend, suffered minor injuries.
Co-defendant Jesse Spurlock, 34, is set to go to trial on murder and home invasion charges in January.
Family members said Moore and her friend were taking their children to a weekend race at Michigan International Speedway and had planned on camping. But because of heavy rains, they decided to stay at the home on Crane Road. Moore's friend knew someone who lived at the home.
Family members told Local 4 that Moore had more than 14 stab wounds and lacerations, a collapsed lung and received 21 pints of blood. They said she was critically injured while protecting her son.
Hall spoke during his arraignment in June.
"To the family and everyone that knew James Porter, I knew him myself. I’m sorry, from the depths of my heart," he said. "I know I can’t take it back, but in a heartbeat I would trade places and lives with any of the people. I don’t know what happened. I snapped and I am sorry."
Hall spoke again at his sentencing. He apologized again and said drugs and alcohol were involved.
"I pray for their families and I pray for forgiveness even if it's not deserved. I accept any punishments I have coming to me," he said.
Judge David Swartz said this case was troubling to him because "it just seemed like it made no sense."
"I have never seen such a senseless and brutal crime as this. I mean, you said drugs and alcohol? Maybe that was it. But it’s just troubling. I can’t get my ahead around what you could have been possibly thinking," said the judge.