A Virginia college student who told authorities she'd been "doing cocaine with the devil" before she went into a psychotic episode and stabbed her best friend earlier this year has pleaded guilty to her murder.
Luisa Cutting on Monday was sentenced to serve 20 years behind bars for the slaying of her 20-year-old Radford University roommate, Alexa Cannon inside their off-campus apartment, the Roanoke Times reported. Authorities responded to the residence on Jan. 24 around 8 a.m. after a neighbor called 911 to report arguing and screaming coming from inside.
When they arrived at the scene, Cutting met officers at the door and confessed to killing the Roanoke psychology student. She was reportedly high on a series of drugs at the time, including mushrooms, Adderall, Xanax and marijuana.
Attorney Chris Rehak told jurors that no real motive has been revealed in the case beyond the drug-use.
Cutting's interrogation with police "was a rambling and bizarre series of episodes," which included her claims to have done "cocaine with the devil." She at one point also attempted to force her entire hand into her mouth, prompting jail personnel to take her to a mental facility for a week, according to the Times.
Cutting, the former president of the Radford University's Latino Student Alliance, also read a brief statement of apology to the family during her sentencing on Monday.
"There are no words for this tragedy and my heart is filled with sorrow and grief," she said. "I'm so, so sorry."
Defense attorney Blair Howard dubbed Cutting's actions a "psychotic episode" brought on by drug use in wake of the sentencing, according to the newspaper.
"She has come to a reckoning with herself," he said. "But there's nothing she can do except to express her sincere sorrow."
