WISE, Va. — A Wise County man has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison, after pleading guilty to killing his grandmother.

Joshua Blake Smith, 34, of Big Stone Gap, pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree murder, abduction and strangulation. Smith was sentenced to life in prison for the murder charge and was given suspended sentences for the abduction and strangulation charges.

“Today we convicted Joshua Smith of killing his grandmother,” Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Ken Lammers said. “The violence and abuse in this case was highly disturbing, and this man needed to be held responsible for his actions as well as removed from the community so he could do no further harm. He will spend the rest of his life in a penitentiary. He deserves no less.”

Smith admitted to killing his 72-year-old grandmother back in August of 2020. He told police he forced her into her bedroom and stabbed her multiple times in the neck. He then tried to suffocate and strangle her, but told police it took several hours for her to die.

When police arrived, there was a shovel and blue tarp in front of the home. Police say he tried to recruit others to help him dispose of her body.

As part of his plea, Smith waived his right to appeal his sentence.