Phoenix man guilty of beheading wife sentenced to 29 years

PHOENIX — A Phoenix man who pleaded guilty to beheading his wife and their dogs was sentenced to 29 years in prison on Friday.

Kenneth Dale Wakefield struck a plea deal for the July 2015 killing of Trina Heisch. He pleaded guilty in February to second-degree murder and two counts of animal cruelty.

He told police he was “trying to get the evil out” of Heisch, who was found at their home with multiple stab wounds to her torso, hands and arms.

Before killing Heisch, Wakefield had decapitated one of their dogs. That sparked the fatal argument.

After stabbing Heisch, he killed the remaining dog.

High on methamphetamine and other drugs, Wakefield mutilated himself, as well, gouging out an eye and cutting off part of his left forearm.

He told investigators that had heard voices during the attack and had done it “for God and the end of the world to be peaceful.”

Wakefield had been recently released from the state mental hospital. A psychiatric review board said it believed his mental health problems has subsided and he wouldn’t be dangerous if he were in a residential treatment program.

Lawyers had plotted an insanity defense for Wakefield, who moaned and cried during a court appearance in August.

The couple met in a state mental hospital, where they were each serving 10-year sentences for stabbing family members.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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