An Ohio woman who killed her mother inside their home after learning she had been removed from college was sentenced to life in prison.

Sydney Powell, 23, of Akron, was sentenced in Summit County Common Pleas Court after a jury found her guilty in the death of her mother, Brenda Powell.

Judge Kelly McLaughlin ruled that Sydney would be eligible for parole after serving 15 years of her life sentence, according to a press release from Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh.

The case went back to March 2020 and centered on a violent incident that happened inside the family’s home. Prosecutors said Sydney struck her mother in the head with an iron skillet and then stabbed her nearly 30 times in the neck. Brenda Powell was 50 years old at the time.

According to Fox News, Brenda was on the phone with school officials when the incident happened. Prosecutors said the people on the call heard screaming and became alarmed. They contacted local police after realizing something was wrong.

Authorities said Sydney later tried to make the scene look like a break-in. Brenda was taken to the hospital, where she later died from her injuries.

Prosecutors said the attack happened after Sydney learned she had been kicked out of college and did not want her mother to find out.

Sydney was 19 years old at the time and had been removed from the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio, due to poor grades. She reportedly kept this information secret from her mother.

On March 3, 2020, Brenda was speaking with school officials when Sydney attacked her. The call ended suddenly, and the school officials contacted police after hearing what sounded like distress on the line.

Brenda Powell worked as a child life specialist at Akron Children’s Hospital for nearly 30 years. According to Court TV, she was well known in her field and had spent decades helping young patients and their families.

Sydney’s trial included arguments about her mental health. Three defense experts diagnosed her with schizophrenia. They told the court that she did not understand the wrongfulness of her actions at the time because of the disorder.

A clinical psychologist testified for the prosecution and challenged that diagnosis. Dr. Silvia O’Bradovich told the court that Sydney’s behavior and statements did not match schizophrenia.

“The best source of information for an insanity evaluation is what was said and felt at the time of the incident,” O’Bradovich said, “It just didn’t add up to Schizophrenia.”

Assistant Prosecutor Brian Stano also spoke about Sydney’s actions during the incident. He told the court that after hitting her mother with the iron skillet, Sydney went into the kitchen and picked up a steak knife. He argued that these steps showed her actions were purposeful.

On September 20, the jury found Sydney guilty of two counts of murder. She was also convicted of felony assault and tampering with evidence.

During sentencing, Sydney’s attorney, Donald Malarcik, argued that the punishment was too harsh. He said the family had asked the court for leniency.

“The wishes of the victim are trampled upon yet again, I find [it] appalling,” Malarcik said, according to Fox News.

He also read a letter from an Akron Children’s Hospital doctor in court. According to local station WKYC, the letter said that if Brenda were still alive, she “would without a doubt want the unwavering support of Sydney’s continued treatment for her mental condition in the least restrictive environment possible with as much family connection and contact as is possible.”

Judge McLaughlin spoke briefly during the sentencing hearing. She expressed sympathy for the family.

“To the victim, to the family and the friends, I am terribly sorry for your loss here,” the judge said. “I cannot imagine what you have been through.”

Sydney was emotional during the hearing and spoke only once. She quietly replied “Yes” when the judge asked if she would need the court to appoint an attorney to represent her in an appeal.

The sentencing closed a case that had deeply affected the Powell family and the Akron community.

In late 2024, an Ohio appeals court overturned Sydney Powell’s conviction, ruling that the trial court made errors related to expert testimony.

As of 2025, prosecutors had asked the Ohio Supreme Court to review that decision, meaning the case remained under legal review and the final outcome had not yet been settled.

Being Rejected by a Woman Sparked His Anger — So He Chose a Random Couple and Ended Their Lives as Their Young Kids Watched

Marcel LaGrange, a 26-year-old man from Maine, was given two life sentences for a deadly shooting that took place in June 2023. The case forever changed the lives of two young children.

According to reports from the Portland Press Herald, LaGrange was sentenced for killing Brittney Cockrell and Michael Hayter. The couple was sitting inside a parked car in downtown Westbrook when the shooting happened.

Their two children, who were 7 and 11 years old at the time, were inside the car and witnessed the events.

LaGrange acted out of anger after being rejected by a woman. Instead of calming down, they said he waited nearby and later targeted a random couple. 

During the sentencing hearing, state prosecutor Jennifer Ackerman explained that LaGrange had been romantically turned away and had made statements suggesting that several people would suffer because of it.

Cumberland County Superior Court Justice Deborah Cashman sentenced LaGrange to two life terms for the murders. She also added an extra 50-year sentence because he tried to shoot one of the children during the incident. Reports confirmed that the child was not injured.

LaGrange had already pleaded guilty in September to six charges. These included two counts of murder, attempted murder, making a threat with a dangerous weapon and reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon. Because of the guilty plea, the case did not go to trial.

At the sentencing, Ackerman described what the children went through that day. She said both children were inside the car when their father was shot in the front seat. She also told the court that the children watched as their mother ran from the vehicle while LaGrange chased her with a gun.

Family members were given time to speak during the hearing. The children’s grandfather, aunt and older sister shared how the loss had affected them. 

One of the most powerful moments came when the couple’s oldest daughter, Cadence Cockrell, addressed the judge. She explained that her parents were taken from her and said the punishment should match the harm done, especially since her younger siblings had to witness the violence.

The children’s grandfather, Jeff McKinney, also read a letter written by Mason, one of the children who was in the car. 

In the letter, Mason described hearing gunshots and reacting by lowering himself as much as possible in his seat so he and his sibling could stay safe. The letter helped the court understand how frightening the moment was for the children.

LaGrange also spoke during the hearing. His attorney said he felt regret over what happened. WMTW reported that LaGrange told the court he was not thinking clearly at the time and said he had not been receiving the mental health care he needed.

He also admitted to using drugs and alcohol that day and apologized to the victims’ family.

Despite hearing the apology, the family said the sentence felt fair. 

After the hearing, McKinney shared that while nothing could bring his daughter and son-in-law back, the judge’s decision gave them some sense of justice. He said the outcome was painful but believed the court made the right call by sentencing LaGrange to life in prison.