By Steven Stubbs/Reporter
TIFTON—Former Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College student Matthew Wilkins, 21, was recently sentenced by a Cobb County judge to serve life in prison, plus 20 years, for the 2008 murder of Marlisa Wells.
A Cobb County jury found Wilkins guilty of felony murder, malice murder, aggravated battery and aggravated assault on March 10.
Wilkins killed Wells in her grandparents’ home in Austell on Jan. 19, 2008. Wells was said to have had 60 knife wounds, head trauma and a bent fork protruding from her back.
An article in The Marietta Daily Journal said Wilkins was sentenced to life in prison for the malice murder charge, and the extra 20 years was for the aggravated battery conviction.
The Marietta newspaper reported the chief deputy assistant district attorney and lead prosecutor Jesse Evans said Wilkins will be eligible for parole in 30 years.
Wilkins was reported as showing no remorse during the trial. His mother stated, “He just never shows emotion.”
Wilkins was in his second semester at ABAC at the time of the murder. He lived on campus, and shared a residence with over 1,000 other ABAC students.
Wells was a 16-year-old student at South Cobb High School, and was reported to have had a relationship with Wilkins.
To contact reporter Steven Stubbs, call 382-4321.
