Iowa teen who killed parents to 'take charge of his life' is sentenced to at least 50 years

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (TCD) -- A 19-year-old teen was ordered to spend at least 50 years in prison for killing his parents in a violent stabbing attack two years ago.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports a judge sentenced Ethan Orton on Monday, June 5, to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 50 years in connection with the deaths of his parents, 41-year-old Misty Scott-Slade and 42-year-old Casey Orton. He will be eligible for parole when he is 67 years old.

Ethan Orton pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in February.

On Oct. 14, 2021, Cedar Rapids Police received a call about a "suspicious person" at a home on Carnaby Drive NE, and when they arrived, they found Ethan Orton "sitting outside the residence covered in blood."

Orton, who was 17 at the time, told police he killed his parents. When officers entered the home, they found Casey Orton and Scott-Slade deceased. The criminal complaint says Orton stabbed his mother and father with a knife, then used an ax on Scott-Slade when he saw she was still alive. He reportedly said he committed the crime because he wanted to "take charge of his life."

According to the Cedar Rapids Gazette, Orton argued in court his parents abused him throughout his life and told him he needed to move out by the time he turned 18.

A forensic psychologist testified at the sentencing hearing that Orton had a mental breakdown because of a lack of support in his family, and his parents had tried to pin their relationship problems on him. Another psychologist reportedly wrote in an evaluation that Orton did not exhibit any mental disorders.

Orton reportedly told the judge he was "sorry for all of this."

MORE:

• Cedar Rapids teen who killed his parents must serve minimum of 50 years - Cedar Rapids Gazette
• Iowa teen pleads guilty to killing parents with knife, ax because he wanted to 'take charge of his life', 2/28/2023 - TCD
• Homicide at 361 Carnaby Drive NE, 10/14/2021 - Cedar Rapids Police Department
• State of Iowa vs. Ethan Alexander Orton