A Crawford County man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the shotgun slaying of his father in March.
Eddie Dean Hice, 55, also was given a 20-year suspended sentence by Circuit Judge Gary Cottrell on a guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to Prosecuting Attorney Marc McCune.
Hice initially was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death March 13 of his father, Herschel Hice, 75. McCune said he allowed Eddie Hice to plead to the lesser charge and receive the 25-year sentence at the request of Hice's family, including Herschel Hice's widow, Lillie Hice.
McCune said Hice will be eligible for parole after serving a minimum of six years, four months.
Crawford County sheriff's office reports stated that Eddie Hice had drunk a pint of whiskey and at least two beers on the morning of March 13. Hice and his father argued throughout the day about Eddie Hice's drinking. At one point, according to the reports, Herschel Hice pointed a gun at his son's head.
About 2 p.m., Eddie Hice got a shotgun loaded with buckshot and shot Herschel Hice in the chest as he sat on the couch in their home at 729 Pleasant Valley Road.
He then called 911, told the dispatcher he killed his father and waited outside for deputies to arrive and arrest him, according to the reports.
NW News on 12/19/2014