A California man in his mid-thirties has been sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in prison following a brutal attack that left his stepmother dead and his father gravely injured. Justin Tray Buchanan, aged 34, will face a lifetime sentence for his crimes, as announced by the San Luis Obispo District Attorney’s Office.

In a shocking incident that took place on July 16, 2023, in the small town of Shandon, located approximately 90 miles northwest of Bakersfield, Buchanan unleashed a violent spree inside a family home. According to reports from the San Luis Obispo Tribune, a heated argument between Buchanan and his family members escalated dramatically. Surveillance footage captured the horrifying moment as Buchanan pursued his stepmother, Kelly Jean Buchanan, through the house. When he caught her, he tackled and stabbed her at least seven times, despite her desperate cries for help.

The violence did not stop there. As a neighbor bravely attempted to intervene, Buchanan turned his aggression toward them as well, though the neighbor managed to fend him off using makeshift weapons. Buchanan’s father was also a victim of the attack, suffering stab wounds but ultimately surviving the ordeal.

During a preliminary hearing held nearly a year after the tragic events, Buchanan’s father took the stand to recount the harrowing experience, suggesting that his son seemed to be under some sort of possession during the attack. The courtroom testimony painted a chilling picture of the chaos that unfolded that day.

Pleading guilty to charges of murder, attempted murder, and assault, Justin Buchanan now faces the consequences of his actions, with a sentence that reflects the severity of his crimes and the impact on his family and community.

“His eyes went completely black, no whites in his eyes,” he said, per the Tribune. “I’d never seen him like that before.”

Justin Buchanan reportedly had mental health issues and had previously been deemed incompetent to stand trial.

Nancy Duckworth, Kelly Buchanan’s mother, made an emotional victim impact statement, saying no life sentence can erase the pain of losing her daughter.

“Nothing will ever be good or fine again,” she reportedly said.

Judge Jesse Marino told the defendant that he can spend his time in prison working on his mental health issues.

“You said you turned into a monster, and I can’t say I disagree,” Marino reportedly said.

The defendant apologized for his actions and asked his family for forgiveness.

District Attorney Dan Dow said in a statement after the sentencing: “The tragedy of family violence leaves a lasting effect on the entire family and our community. While this sentence will not bring Mrs. Buchanan back, it serves to punish the killer and to send a strong message to others that we will always hold offenders accountable to the maximum extent we can under California law.”