Son beat mother to death with a “landscaping brick,” shared videos on Snapchat and FaceTime

A Kansas man was sentenced to life in prison Friday for the 2023 killing of his mother, whom prosecutors said he beat to death with a landscaping brick while speaking to police and recording videos during the attack.

Devin Joel, 24, was sentenced in Sedgwick County to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years after pleading guilty to first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated robbery. The victim was his mother, 46-year-old Kacy Joel.

According to court records, police were called to Kacy Joel’s Wichita home on May 30, 2023, after Devin Joel dialed 911 and reported that he was beating his mother with a brick. Dispatchers reported hearing him tell her to “stay down,” while a woman could be heard crying in the background.

Authorities said Joel later told police his mother was no longer breathing and claimed he was armed with a knife, threatening to harm responding officers.

After leaving the home, Joel ran through the neighborhood, forcing his way into a nearby residence while holding a knife and telling a resident that he was “a killer,” according to investigators. He later entered a local business but left without incident. Officers eventually arrested him nearby and noted he was covered in blood and appeared calm while speaking about the attack.

Police later found Kacy Joel critically injured outside her home. She was transported to a hospital, where she later died.

During the sentencing hearing, Joel’s sister spoke about the emotional impact of the crime, describing the fear and suffering she believes their mother experienced. She also told investigators that her brother contacted her via FaceTime after the attack and showed her their injured mother. Investigators said videos were also posted to social media accounts showing Joel and the aftermath of the attack.

Family members told police that Joel had been experiencing serious mental health issues prior to the killing, including violent hallucinations and erratic behavior. He was evaluated and found competent to stand trial before entering his guilty plea last year.

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