SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. — A Nicholas County man who killed two adults and two children last year could spend the rest of his life in prison.
James Roy Belknap, 27, of Leivasy, will learn his fate Wednesday during his sentencing at 3 p.m. in Nicholas County Circuit Court.
Belknap shot and killed Steven Leroy Hendrix, his girlfriend, Amber Martin, and Hendrix’s two kids, Dakota, age six, and Kaylee, age four, last year. Their bodies were found at Belknap’s Leivasy home in May 2012 after they were reported missing.
Belknap abruptly plead guilty to four counts of first degree murder in the case last month after a pretrial hearing. He was scheduled to go to trial August 13. He originally admitted to the murders but later tried to blame it on someone else.
Belknap agreed to plead guilty to the murders if separate accessory charges were dropped against his then girlfriend and another man. They were both charged with transporting Belknap following the shootings.
During the sentencing, a judge will decide whether to grant mercy. If no mercy, Belknap will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.