A man who confessed to murdering his ex-girlfriend under the influence of methamphetamine has been sentenced to 55 years to life in prison. He brutally stabbed the woman up to 30 times before dismembering her body. Later, he disposed of her remains in a California orchard. Cameron Wright, 22, received his sentence on Wednesday after pleading guilty to the January killing of Samantha Sharp, 24. The emotional courtroom proceedings included heart-wrenching testimonies from family members, who expressed their grief and anger towards the defendant.
During the hearing, Samantha Sharp’s cousin, Jennifer Lewing, tearfully addressed Wright and said that he stole her life from her. Michelle Hill, Sharp’s mother, also spoke, questioning Wright’s motives and expressing the devastation he had caused. Brandon Loudermilk, Sharp’s younger brother, confronted Wright. The brother reminding the killer of the promise he made to protect his sister. Wright, sobbing, responded by admitting that he was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the crime and apologized for his actions.
Fresno County Superior Court Judge Mark Cullers described the murder as horrendous, emphasizing the brutality of the attack. He noted that Sharp was on her hands and knees, saying “I love you,” as Wright viciously assaulted her. The judge also addressed the accusation that Wright was a follower of Satan, which he denied. Wright’s public defender, Keegan Smith, declined to comment on the case.
The investigation began on January 9th when the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office received a call from someone claiming that Wright had confessed to killing his girlfriend, dismembering her body, and scattering her remains across various locations in the county. Sheriff deputies followed the information provided by Wright and discovered Sharp’s remains in an orchard. Wright was subsequently arrested and booked into the Fresno County Jail. At the time of the crime, the couple had a newborn child. The baby is now in the care of Sharp’s family while custody arrangements are being resolved in court.
The victim’s uncle, James Hill, addressed Wright in court, expressing the devastation caused to their family. He vowed to raise Wright’s son as his own and ensure that he knows the truth about what happened to his mother.