Jurors sentence killer to life without parole

A 46-year-old Las Vegas man convicted of the April 2009 murder of the mother of his children was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Wednesday.

Clayton Lavell Wrencher was convicted by a jury on Tuesday of first-degree murder for the stabbing death of 38-year-old Patricia McCreery.

He was found guilty also of two counts of child endangerment for slaying McCreery in the presence of their two sons, then ages 10 and 11.

Authorities said Wrencher stabbed McCreery multiple times at her home in the 4300 block of El Cebra Way, near Mountain Vista Street and Harmon Avenue. She was pronounced dead at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center.

Prosecutors said they were pleased with the decision.

"We felt strongly, because he committed the crime in front of his 10-year-old son, that this was the only appropriate verdict," prosecutor Robert Daskas said.

The 10-year-old son, now 11, was in bed with McCreery when Wrencher attacked her the night of April 24, 2009, Daskas said.

The son testified at the weeklong trial that his father wielded a knife that looked similar to the weapon used by the horror film character Chucky in "Child's Play," Daskas said.

McCreery was stabbed 10 times with a butcher knife. One of her wounds was 8½ inches deep, Daskas said.

A protective order against Wrencher had expired the day before McCreery was killed, Daskas said. Wrencher had a history of domestic violence against McCreery during their failed 16-year relationship, Daskas said, but he lived with her because she needed him to watch the children while she worked a full-time job.

Wrencher testified in his own defense during the trial that he didn't remember committing the act and he didn't know what caused him to snap, Daskas said.

Wrencher's defense attorneys said after Wednesday's hearing that they would appeal.

Wrencher was sentenced on the murder charge by the same jury that convicted him after a one-day trial. The jury convicted Wrencher after deliberating for one hour.

Wrencher will be sentenced Aug. 12 on child endangerment charges.