A homeless man was sentenced today to 26 years to life in state prison for fatally stabbing a 45-year-old woman who had allowed the defendant to live in her home, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

Deputy District Attorney Casey Higgins said Laevin Meikel Weatherspoon (dob 3/5/86) was convicted by a jury on Aug. 31 of one count of first-degree murder with a knife-use allegation.

On Dec. 17, 2013, victim Wanda Threadgill's daughter broke into her mother's home after not hearing from her for about two weeks, the prosecutor said. In the home, the victim's daughter found her mother's decomposing body.

Threadgill had been stabbed to death by Weatherspoon on or around Dec. 5, 2013, the prosecutor added. According to evidence presented in court, the defendant stabbed the woman 27 times and days later fled to Chicago.

DNA evidence on a butcher knife found at the home tied Weatherspoon to the killing. During the trial, the defendant also admitted on the stand that he had stabbed the victim, the prosecutor said.

Case BA421362 was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department.

Los Angeles District Attorney / Case BA421362 / September 22, 2017