According to the court documents, the 19-year-old defendant was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for killing his 41-year-old father on Halloween night in 2019. The then-17-year-old defendant repeatedly strike his father with a hammer and stabbed him with a knife, prosecutors say. He allegedly told investigators that he had been planning to murder every member of his family, but lost motivation to continue killing after he killed his father. He was sentenced on Monday, Nov. 1.
According to a report, the local fire department responded to a call about a reported structure fire inside the victim’s, Jason Beam, house on the evening of Oct. 31, 2019. When the crews entered the residence in New Hampshire, the victim’s body was discovered. They call the police.
Then-17-year-old defendant, Joseph Beam, was taken into custody by police the next day, on Nov. 1, 2019. During an investigation, he allegedly told investigators that “he had been planning to murder every member of his family, but said he lost motivation to continue killing after viciously killing his father.
The defendant’s mother, Julie Patten, said she believed her son was not in control of his actions the night he killed his father. She said: “The actions of Joey that night were not the actions of the son I bore, I nurtured, and I loved. His actions were the manifestations of a delusion. Symptoms that were so distressing to himself, that he was afraid to tell Jason or me.”
The defendant’s attorneys, had previously filed documents with the court arguing that their client was suffering from a mental disease or defect at the time he allegedly assaulted his father. But, the defendant opted to make a deal with prosecutors.
During the sentencing hearing, the defendant reportedly said:
“It’s hard waking up every day knowing you’re the reason why your dad is gone. I would do anything in this world to have my dad back. He means a lot to me. Every day, I worry about him. I don’t know where someone goes after they die, but I hope I can see him again someday.
I’m truly sorry for everyone I have hurt. I hope I can have another chance at life in the future. I love you mom, I love you Jimmy. I love you dad. Every time I’m in a quiet place, I talk to my dad. I really hope he can hear me. I miss him so much.”
Featured Image – Jason W. Beam