Levi Davis: Idaho man sentenced to life in prison for killing his mother by 'nearly decapitating' her

Trigger warning: Graphic description of crime

NAMPA, IDAHO: After confessing to killing his own mother and repeatedly stabbing and cutting her in what prosecutors called "one of the most horrific fact patterns" they had ever encountered, a 27-year-old man in Idaho will probably spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Authorities said that Levi Isaac Davis, found guilty of killing Karly Cantrell, was sentenced to 40 years to life in state prison by Third Judicial District Court Judge Brent L Whiting on Friday, February 16, 2024.

Levi Davis must complete 40 years of a fixed-term sentence

In a statement released after the sentencing hearing, Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue stated, "This was one of the most horrible acts of violence that I have seen in all my years in law enforcement."

Donahue further added. "The sheer brutality shown by the defendant against his own mother and his complete lack of remorse are truly hard to fathom.”

In September, Davis entered a guilty plea to one count of second-degree murder, a felony related to the death of his mother. Before being eligible for parole, Davis must complete a minimum of 40 years of a fixed-term sentence in prison.

After that, he will be under supervision for the remainder of his life.

Whiting further mandated that Davis pay a $5,000 civil fine, have no communication with the victim's family for a century, and provide a DNA sample to the Idaho criminal database.

In Nampa, Idaho, on October 10, 2022, Davis was taken into custody by deputies affiliated with the FBI METRO Violent Crime Task Force, according to a press release issued by the Canyon County Prosecutor's Office.

After an investigation, it was discovered that he had earlier that day "brutally stabbed and nearly decapitated his mother" inside of her Middleton, Idaho, home. This led to his arrest.

Cantrell was discovered by her husband in a pool of her blood at approximately 3:35 pm. that day, as reported by Law&Crime.

Canyon County Prosecutor Sean Jorgensen called the condition of her body, which included missing skin and chunks of hair, "truly horrific."

Levi Davis found with bloodstains on his shoes and pants

Authorities claimed that Cantrell and Kline had kicked Davis out of their house due to what they called "poor behavior" shortly before the murder.

According to court documents, Davis repeatedly stabbed Cantrell in the neck and abdomen before stealing a car and leaving the scene.

Later that day, at the halfway house where Davis lived, investigators were able to find his car after looking through surveillance footage.

Deputies saw what appeared to be bloodstains on shoes and pants that were visible inside Davis' vehicle. A short while later, Davis was found inside the halfway house and taken into custody.

As reported by Law&Crime, Deputy Prosecutor Stephanie Morse stated at the sentencing hearing, “The impact of such a crime can’t be understated. Karly’s loss is devastating to this community."

"But even more devastating is how it has impacted her family that she leaves behind for the rest of their lives. The Defendant brutally stabbed and murdered his mother. An act unconscionable,” he added.

Cantrell served as the West Valley Humane Society's executive director before her murder. In a posthumous Facebook post, the organization referred to her as a “kind, compassionate and empathetic friend, mother, wife, grandmother and daughter.”