VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A man arrested in the fatal stabbing of a Daytona Beach couple during Bike Week in 2022 was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole on Wednesday after pleading no contest to the charges.
Jean Macean randomly targeting Terry and Brenda Aultman in March 2022 as they rode their bicycles from Bike Week festivities. Police said Macean attacked the couple, stabbing them and slashing their throats.
[Watch previous coverage of the case below]
Before accepting the plea deal, prosecutors were seeking the death penalty against Macean but that was taken off the table.
At Wednesday’s hearing, Macean’s defense attorney read a statement on his behalf apologizing for killing the Aultmans and claiming he was suffering from mental illness at the time.
Macean’s lawyer released a statement following the hearing, saying the crime has “no explanation because it was committed by a mentally ill man.”
“Our condolences go to the family of the Aultmans. This was a crime that has no explanation because it was committed by a mentally ill man. We are thankful to the family and the Office of the State Attorney for seeing that the mitigation presented in this case demanded that justice would be best served by a life sentence for Jean.”
Macean was arrested in Orlando after a days-long search and confessed to killing the couple, police said.
“This is one of the most vicious attacks I’ve ever seen in my 20 years. It’s extremely disturbing because it’s completely senseless. Usually, we can provide a nexus or a motive, but for this one right now, we cannot,” Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said shortly after the stabbings.
A motion was filed in March of this year to waive the death penalty, in part due to the lack of witnesses who could speak in his defense.