WARNING: The details in this story may be disturbing to some.
The young man who stabbed his group home worker to death was sentenced to life in prison Friday.
The youth was sentenced as an adult, which means he can be identified.
Travis Scheerschmidt gazed at the ground, his head lowered, showing no emotion as he learned he would serve a life sentence for second-degree murder.
He will have no chance of parole for seven years.
The judge said a youth sentence of four years behind bars with three years probation just wouldn’t be sufficient given the crime.
Scheerschmidt admitted to attacking his group home worker, Diane McClements, on May 12, 2012 using a paring knife and a butcher knife.
READ MORE: Youth pleads guilty to murdering Camrose group home worker
After being assessed, it was determined Scheerschmidt had an anti-social personality disorder and other mental health issues.
“For them, the end of this stage gives them some sense of finality,” Crown prosecutor Ryan Pollard said.
“It seems like it will give them some ease…from this point forward.”
McClements’ son Jeff said he is satisfied with the sentence. He hopes his mother’s tragic death leads to improvements to Alberta’s group homes.
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