It begins with a frantic 911 call. I have it on video. Okay, can you get out of the home with him? I am trying to get my kids stuff so I can get out of here. Loud noises startle a quiet neighborhood. So, we were calling the dogs. I just figured it was a firecracker that I heard. Bam, bam, bam. I'm like, no, that was gunshot. A massive police response follows. Leading to a suspect who thinks he's the smartest man in the room. What were your intentions when you were shooting her? What were you trying to do? Were you in What kind of question is that? Back in 2016, life was finally falling into place for Jordan Wheeler. She and her husband, Bryce, had just closed on a modest three-bedroom on Woodward Street in Clinton Township, Michigan. It was where they would raise their family with Jordan as the anchor. Loved ones called her a natural mother who lived for her three kids and had the kind of patience with her nieces and nephews that most people just can't fake. But by July 2023, the promise had slowly faded. Arguments between the couple grew louder and the tension mounted. Bryce was battling a serious drinking problem and despite a stint in rehab, he couldn't seem to get right. Jordan had drawn a line in the sand. Fix it or I'm out. The final straw dropped when Bryce, a private investigator and National Guardsman, shipped off to Pennsylvania for training. That month apart gave Jordan the clarity she needed. When he returned, he didn't come home to a warm welcome. He came home to the end of his marriage. Within a few days, Jordan had filed the papers, packed up the kids, [music] and moved in with her sister. She was checking out and even Bryce, despite his denial later on, knew exactly where he stood in that moment. Are you married right now? Um, I was going through the process of a divorce. Sorry to hear that. Um How long have you been married? 9 and 1/2 years. 9 and 1/2 years. However, admitting it is one thing, accepting it is another. Bryce didn't seem to take the hint. He spiraled. According to family members, he said things such as, "If I can't have you, no one else can." And, "I am obsessed with you." Jordan felt compelled to protect herself with a court order, a piece of paper that said he could only talk to her about the kids. Despite this, he blew [music] up her phone so relentlessly that she had to get a second device just to escape the noise. That's exactly why Jordan's sister begged her not to go to Bryce's house on October 19th. She knew the situation was a powder keg >> [music] >> and Jordan was walking right toward the spark. Thursday evening, October 19th, 2023. According to police records, Bryce, who had been drinking again, had the two boys for the night. Irritated by his son's repeated requests for help with homework, he threw a tablet at his son's back. The terrified boy called his mother and, like a furious mama bear, Jordan's primal instincts kicked in. She rushed over in her pajamas to pick them up, but once inside, things escalated and Bryce became physical with her. That's when she decided to call 911. Um, my child called me crying that his dad threw his tablet at him, so I was coming to get him. And then he put his hands on me. Okay, I have it on video. Okay, can you get out of the home with him? I am trying to get my kids stuff so I can get out of here. Okay, they're ready for bed, so they're trying to get dressed and get their stuff first because they need medical >> attention, ma'am? No. Okay, can you wait in your vehicle? Are you all right? I'm getting my kids out of here. I also believe that he's been drinking, so Okay, what did he do to you? Um, he grabbed me and tried to push me out of the house. What's your name? I have it on video. Jordan Wheeler. >> to him, please? But Jordan? Yes. You said he has been drinking? I believe so. Does anybody have any weapons? Um, yes, he has a gun. Where is the gun? Somewhere in the house, probably in the bedroom. But it's not being used or threatened in any way? No. Okay, what's his last name? >> Wheeler. First name? Steven. Date of birth for him? And how many children are in the home? Hello? Hello? Hello? Jordan, what's going on? Hello? Hello? So, what is going on? WHAT IS GOING ON? WHAT IS SHE WEARING IN THE HOUSE? 650 advised domestic daycare area. Caller advised male on the phone male half of Steven Wheeler lying from being anti-police and making statements versus on the cop. 650 advised male half on the phone now saying that he shot the female in the head. The dispatcher no longer hears the female in the [clears throat] background. I'm out here. Okay, you see anybody on the street? I don't, BUT I GOT HIS KIDS RIGHT HERE. >> OKAY, WHO WHO'S THE GUY THAT'S STANDING OUT THERE? >> THAT'S MY SISTER, MY NEIGHBOR. WHO'S THE ONE THAT'S STANDING RIGHT in the middle? Was that your your It might be my sister, please stop. Where's the house? He's trying to make me kill himself. GET ON THE GROUND. SHOOT HER IN THE [ __ ] HEAD. GET ON THE GROUND. GET ON THE GROUND. GET ON THE GROUND. ALL RIGHT, GO. GET THE HOUSE, THE HOUSE. WHERE YOU AT? I got I'm going with the You guys good? Yeah, go ahead. Take it. Door's locked. Kick it. KICK IT. SIDE DOOR. SIDE DOOR. SIDE DOOR. GO. POLICE DEPARTMENT. POLICE DEPARTMENT. SOMEONE FLOOD THAT BASEMENT. BASEMENT. I'm in the basement. All right, we got a deceased. We got a deceased. One gunshot. Medics arrived and confirmed the worst. Jordan was gone. In an instant, the mama bear was silenced. Jordan died in her pajamas on the floor of a house she once thought would be her forever home. She had rushed into the danger to save her cubs and paid the ultimate price. The boys didn't just lose a mother that night, they lost their entire world. Police cleared the house as Bryce was hauled down to the Clinton Township Police Department. The immediate threat was neutralized, but the investigation was just heating up. Detectives arrived with a search warrant and entered the home. They observed spent shell casings on the living room floor, as well as an unloaded handgun on the mantel. Multiple witnesses were questioned and that's when officers learned the kids were rushed out just in time. They had seen their father lashing out, cursing, stumbling, and crashing into the drywall hard enough to leave a hole. Terrified, Jordan told them to run outside. They made it out mere seconds before the shooting started. Did anybody see anything? We were in the tent. We have a text up in the back. >> Okay. And I was setting up a wood stove and I heard a pop. Okay. And I looked at my sister and I I the dogs were kind of >> Was it just Was it just in a white truck? >> Yeah. Okay. Yeah. And So, we were calling the dogs. I just figured it was a firecracker that I heard. BAM, BAM, BAM. I'm like, no, that was gunshots. >> Okay. And then I heard Bryce yelling, "Fucking [ __ ] shot her in the head." And I went running over there like an idiot. >> Yeah, he >> "Shoot her in the [ __ ] head, [ __ ] bitch." >> Where was he at when he said that? >> Right in the [ __ ] doorway. Okay. You want And then and then I I went to the end of the driveway and I'm like, "Bryce, what did you do?" He come out and laid down on the ground and he put his hands behind his head. He's like, "Fucking shoot me." I said, "No, I'm not going to shoot you. I'm not shooting you." >> You want to follow witness statement of what you heard and saw? Yes. Okay. We'll get you one. That witness from the 911 call held [clears throat] the line while her sister shielded the boys from the horror until family arrived. Detectives then turned to Bryce's inner circle finding a sharp divide. To friends, he was a hard-working dad. What they didn't know, however, [clears throat] was that he was also a ticking time bomb. The divorce didn't just rattle him, it broke him. The alcohol was back, his control was gone. Everyone saw a man spiraling, but no one predicted an execution. At the station, the legal dance started fast. Bryce immediately lawyered up shutting down the initial interview attempt, but silence is hard for a guy who needs to control the narrative. Hours later, he waived his rights and called the officers back in. Detectives didn't need a confession, they had the gun, ballistics, and audio, but they still took the meeting. What followed wasn't remorse, it was a bizarre and at times disturbing performance. Bryce cast himself as the victim using cold militarized language to attempt to justify his violence. So, just to be clear, um you know you're being charged with a crime, right? You initially when you came back here said you wanted an attorney. Mhm. I'm not allowed to come talk to you. Okay. Okay? But you have to I came on my own volition. You have to You You mind sitting there actually? Um you have to ask for me, which you just did, right? Yes. I asked to speak to you. Yes, okay. And >> [clears throat] >> you know you're under arrest right now, right? >> [snorts] >> Um tonight an incident occurred that led you to be here. Yes. Well, what exactly occurred? In my eyes, uh I will kind of go into the backstory of it. Okay. Um Jordan Wheeler and [ __ ] it. I'm sorry. Um Jordan Throughout the process of the divorce, she lost all rights to the house that we have at said address uh because she was kind of using it to stop check on me. Mhm. Cuz kind of borderline [ __ ] stalking. And yesterday she broke a court order that she signed. And got pretty upset with me. Some substance of abuse taking place? Um Yes. I've never been a violent person. I don't really know what else I should speak on regarding what happened. Well, how about this? Um you're saying that she violated some court order. What do you mean by that? So, uh um I had the What's it called? Like the right to [ __ ] Trying to remember exactly what the hell it's called, but basically the right to have privacy in my in the marital home. Okay. And you know, obviously if two lawyers freaking agree to let the husband have the rights of privacy in his own house because someone was definitely kind of grabbing on. No, um they're grabbing on her, whatever. So, are you saying she wasn't allowed to come to your house? Yes, without my express written consent. Okay. And did she break that? Yes. Okay. And when was that? Uh which time did she break that? Yes. Mhm. Um yesterday night and if may and [ __ ] I video footage of her breaking it and walking into my [ __ ] house without texting me, calling me, anything. It's like You have security cameras in the house? Mhm. Okay. Do you have security cameras in the house or just on the exterior? >> the exterior. Okay. What kind of cameras do you have? Uh Nest doorbell camera. No, Nest doorbell camera and a Nest rear camera. Okay. So, you have one on the doorbell and on the back of the house? Uh one on the doorbell and one facing the side of the property um towards my neighbor's house across the street. And then how do you access that? Do you have like a DVR or is it all on your phone? My phone. So, it's all uh on the web? Yes. Like an app on your phone? >> Yes. Okay. So, you're saying that you have uh on times observed her come to your house when you weren't there? Yes. Yes, by those cameras? Which yes. Uh After said court uh agreement. How long ago was that? The court agreement? No, how long ago did she come to your house without your permission? Uh she did it within the past week. Okay. And how long does your video save? And would it be on your video? I know I have it saved on my phone. Okay. I uh allegedly my Nest saves for a uh it saves like a month in the past. Okay. And you access that that through your phone? Yes. All right. Um where's your phone at now? Uh you tell me. But you had it earlier tonight, right? >> No. You did not? Uh I had it at my house. Right. I have no clue where it is, but Where did you leave Yeah, it was at my house. Okay. What kind of a phone do you have? An iPhone. iPhone? Yes. Um what kind of a case do you have on your iPhone? Black. Black? Yeah. Um so, you have her come into your house without your permission in the past and then I just heard you say that she came to your permission came to your house at 9:00 last night without your permission. Yes. Is that right? Yes. So, she showed up without you knowing that she was going to show up? Yes. Um what what was she doing there? Why did she come over? So, I honestly Um my child called me crying that his dad threw his tablet at him, so I was coming to get him. And then he put his hands on me. Don't really know her intent with her arriving at the house. Um I had my children with me. Well, two out of three of my children, my boys, and uh my boys were in their bedroom want to sleep and I was in my kitchen and yeah. Like you know, you got my front door right here, kitchen's right here, kids are in the back here. Mhm. And yeah. Uh that one south from there. What do you mean south? Like argument? Yeah. Did it get physical? Her towards me, yes. Tell me what happened. She approached me. Um called me a selfish piece of [ __ ] Said I wasn't thinking about the kids because whenever she signed the rights away to the house uh she I guess wasn't thinking very well because she'd been she's been living at her sister's house. Uh and she was you know you know, you're a selfish piece of [ __ ] I [ __ ] hate you, this that the other. And this first time I've ever heard the woman [ __ ] cuss. Mhm. But yeah. She approached me. I asked her to go away. Mhm. A lot. And put my left arm out reinforced her trying to go [clears throat] away or me wanting her to go away. Mhm. And she wouldn't. What was she upset about? The fact that she signed away her own rights to the house and the fact that it made me selfish. Uh she she wanted me to after she signed away her rights to the house she realized that she [ __ ] up and she wanted me to move out of the house. Mhm. And I was just like, "No, I'm not not going to [ __ ] do that. Like I've been paying this mortgage since 2016. Why the [ __ ] am I going to move away? I don't have any place to go. I don't have family here. Mhm. You know, like Okay. >> [snorts] >> And she wanted to move back in, she could have. And I told her that I'd live in and and the other but there was Well, you move out or you're a horrible dad. Which I'm not a horrible dad. And I'm feeling a [ __ ] horrible dad now but When did she move out of the house? When did When she start staying with her sister? August 7th. That that date came out real quick. Is there a reason why you remember that date so easily? Um I was at a school for the military. Mhm. And that's the date that I came home. Okay. Um She hadn't filed for divorce at that point in time. Mhm. But I I was talking to Katria. I said, you know, I can smell blood in the water. I need to go the [ __ ] home. Mhm. Got home August 7th. August 10th, I got a text message, "Hey, I filed for divorce." And so Yeah. So what have you guys been doing in the meantime then? Just normal, I guess, divorce [ __ ] Okay. Has it gotten ugly? There was one time it got ugly. Like not ugly in person but you know, kind of getting at each other. I've never I've never been the type person to yell or scream or lay my hands on her or whatever. Um Yeah. Well, last night it got out of control though. Right? I I really think you could say that. Yeah. Um if I understand you right, it sounds like she showed up on uninvited and she instigated some problems there. That's what you're saying? Mhm. [clears throat] Um you had to put your hand on her to get you away from her. Is that what you're saying? >> She She put her hands on me first. How did she do that? It's kind of the normal [ __ ] slappy type [ __ ] I don't Where were you at? I was I was in my kitchen in front of the sink. Okay. But Yeah. What What do you go by? What do you want me to call you? Steven or do you go by I go by Bryce. Bryce. Bryce. Bryce, this [ __ ] ain't going to be easy, man. No, it's not. I mean, I see you're getting upset about it, right? And I know you feel bad about it. This [ __ ] ain't This [ __ ] ain't easy. That's a [ __ ] understatement, dude. Um I'm not a [ __ ] uh Robert or Roger or whatever Richard Kuklinski, the Iceman. I'm not I'm not a [ __ ] murderer. >> Understood. Like this [ __ ] Like whenever you put me in my cell, Mhm. I sat there and tried to [ __ ] sleep and then, you know, had [snorts] a [ __ ] flashback. I was like, "God damn it, dude. What the fuck?" Like, you know, I'm a I'm a freaking CPL holder. Yep. Uh and I never in my life wanted to have to resort to that. And yeah, like I I I want to be honest with you. I want to be freaking just you know, I I I want to put all the facts out there so that you can do what you have to do cuz you have you have a job. That's right. You have a job. And I want the judge to be able to do their job. Mhm. [ __ ] dude. It's hard. It's not going to be easy, bro. Yeah. You know? And like I don't know where the [ __ ] my kids are. I Kids are at her mom's house. Okay. So they're safe. Kids are good. Kids are at her >> I'm I'm assuming that her mom knows what happened. She does. Everybody knows what happened but nobody knows why. Nobody knows exactly what happened in there. Yeah. You obviously know things got got [ __ ] out of control. And I'm sure that you would take it back 100 times out of 100 times if you could. I'm sure you would have [ __ ] walked out that back door and gone and cooled off somewhere if you could. 100 times out of 100 times. Yeah. Um whenever you corner a person and that person doesn't feel safe. And also >> how you didn't feel safe? I was being berated. I was being hit. Like what am I going to do? Freaking choke slam a person? Like Whatever happened, Bryce. >> Yes. [ __ ] got bad enough that you did what you did, all right? [ __ ] got bad enough that I had to defend myself. And what What did you do to defend yourself? You got to say it, man. It's going to suck [snorts] to say it. It might even [ __ ] cry. Okay? When I say her name, Jordan, it upsets you. And I'm sure you didn't [ __ ] really want to do it but at the time you did it. So I walked away from my kitchen sink. Jordan and I kept on having a heated exchange near the front [music] door. And near the front door. Well, Jordan kept on [ __ ] berating me. I shot her. What led you to the point to go that far? You say she was berating you by the front door? Yes. And did you have the gun on you at that point? I had the gun on me um at the before everything happened. It was on my kitchen table. Mhm. You know, I never threatened her with it. Mhm. Um Where do you normally keep your gun? Um depends on the day, time of day. You know, kitchen table, next to the front door, nightstand. Even with the kids in the house? With kids in the house, um typically I keep it unloaded. Um The pistol itself on top of the dresser Mhm. uh with a magazine inside the underwear drawer. Okay. But tonight you had it on the kitchen table. Yeah. What What got you to the point that you actually got the gun out and put it on the kitchen table? I was I was anticipating to, you know, just cleaning the frame of the Okay. You know, it was 9:00 and the kids were supposed to be asleep. Okay. Is that where you normally clean it is the table? Yeah. Your gun? So you had it laid out on the kitchen table getting ready to clean it. Um Jordan shows up. Yeah. You guys get into an argument. She gets in an argument with me. Um You know, um There's one thing that I you know, I I told her a couple of I'll probably two or three days ago. You know, there's one thing that I the worst of it and that's not to act out of emotion. I wish I don't think said was her too. Well, Yeah. Yeah. How many times did you shoot her? I'm not sure. More than once. What were your intentions when you were shooting her? What were you trying to do? Were you in What What kind of question is that? It's a question you got to ask. All right. If you're shooting someone, you're intending to kill them. Yep. That's something the [ __ ] Boy Scouts teach you. Right. Were you a Boy Scout? Yep. Yep. Can I ask you a question about uh your two boys? Did you hear any crying or screaming from the boys? No. Nothing you know, nothing like that. Okay. And um as you stated that you shot her, would you say maybe a couple of times? Did you check on the boys after that? Do you know where they were? Um After it happened, I remember going outside um crying to my neighbors saying, "Hey, make sure my kids are okay." to the kids. They live across the street like if you're if you take a step outside of my door, they're that neighbor across the street. Make sure my boys are okay. Make sure my kids are okay. And just lay down. Um with my hands behind my head. So, I want to clear some stuff up. So, you're You had your your gun out. What kind of gun is it? It's a Kimber 1911. Is that your only gun? >> 45 Uh yes. I know you're you have one gun registered, you handgun, right? You have any long guns, rifles, or anything like that? No. No. Okay. So, your Kimber uh how uh how long have you had that gun for? Say since like 2016. Okay. Are you um So, military, right? Yes. So, are you proficient with a gun? Uh Like we have to as police >> Yeah, now um kind of yeah. If I'm being honest with you, I mean, if I'm talking to my buddies Yeah. Yeah, yeah, for [laughter] sure. Um I'll talk [ __ ] but my eyesight's not the greatest. >> Right. And So, when you shoot it, do you go to the range or do you just use it at I go to the range maybe once a year. Okay. Um So, what do you have the gun for? Self-protection. I'm a I'm a PI. Okay. So, do you carry it when you work? >> Yes. All right. Um uh on last night at 9:00, you're saying you had the gun out on your on your kitchen table ready to be cleaned, right? Um where is your kitchen table? So, I know where your front door is, right? So, like kind of walk me through >> Do you want to get a pen? Yeah. All right. Maybe walking through your um your house layout cuz I have never been in your house. You, one second. So, here's the pencil might be better, but whatever. >> I don't got one. You're going to have to deal with the pen. Uh And so, here's my front door. Okay. Um Here's my kitchen table. Okay. Stairs going down to the basement. Yep. Counters. So, I'm standing right here. She enters the door Mhm. comes through here. Okay. Um yeah. So, remember when you said that you had to put your hand on her. Mhm. Show me where that happened on the on the map there. I would say about right here. Okay. So, So, it was [clears throat] hand on her retreat. So, You know the rest. Well, going by your diagram here, right? She Did she come in the front door? >> Yes. Okay. So, she came in the front door and you're saying you were standing over here? Mhm. Is this Where is this? Where's your kitchen sink? >> Okay. So, you're at the kitchen sink here. Um Did she come into the house? Yes. Okay. And where did she go when she came into the house? All right, about here. Here. What is that like five or six steps into the house, sir? >> [snorts] >> If not more. I mean, it's only a 1,000 square foot ranch. It's not a huge home. Right. [clears throat] And then um you're saying that you had to put your hands on her because she was being um What What was the word you said? Uh grumpy. Okay. [snorts] But she was getting in your face, right? Yes. All right. It was enough that I had to redirect my attention from doing dishes and what not, cleaning off counter tops. I was just like, "Whoa, I have to talk to this woman. I have to interact with her." Okay. And so, yeah, I had to turn around and meet the threat. Okay. And where did you meet the threat at? Um I would say probably about right here. Okay. And what was threatening about her? I mean, she's like 5 foot nothing, right? Her intonation and she's been She has threatened me so many [ __ ] times throughout the pendency of this divorce like, "Give me what I want or else. Do this or else." Or else what? I don't [ __ ] know what or else means. Okay. You know, uh Has she ever been violent with you before? >> [snorts] >> Yeah. I mean, there's no police records, but you know, she's thrown a [ __ ] pan at me before. >> Okay. Did any of that happen last night? Uh she did not throw a pan at me. No. >> Okay. All right. But But it got to the point that you felt the need to go grab grab the gun and shoot her in the head four times, allegedly. Well, Yeah. I shot her. Is it really allegedly? I mean, we're we're just talking about it, right? You just said you shot her, right? I mean, so like we can talk about >> I just I just can't. Uh Remember I said it's going to suck? Yeah. Jordan's dead. You killed her. Cool. She's not coming back. Cool. Self-defense is a [ __ ] Do you know that she was on the phone with 911 when it happened? >> Yeah. So, I'm trying to figure out where the self-defense is when she's on the phone talking to the 911. Um I'm just trying to trying to hear you out here, okay? I'm trying to give you your chance to explain what happened here. Um cuz I can tell you the 911 call sure as hell didn't sound like that she was fighting you. She was trying to get the kids out of the house. I I want to hear you out. >> No, no, no, I understand. You tell me. Cuz I I I listened to the call, okay? And she called 911. I don't know if she's being truthful, but she said that I need the police out here because we're having an argument and it's getting physical. Okay? >> It was getting physical because of her. And maybe it was, right? Maybe it was getting physical because of her. But then while she's on the phone, I don't hear her assaulting you at all. Well, it's hard to hear something that is happening physically. Well, what was happening? Explain it. Just so that I know. Her getting into my box. Okay. Her walking up to me. Her No. Can Can I ask you a question, Bryce? Yes. So, we've got you at 5'9" 194 lbs. She's 4'11" 94 lbs. You said she's in your box and in your space. How did it escalate to where you retrieved the gun and shot her four times? I have a blank gun. Bryce, we don't have blanks, man. You want You want to know what I think? Mhm. >> [clears throat] >> I think you screwed up. I think you [ __ ] up. I think you were so mad at her that you did something really stupid and you can't take it back. And yeah, maybe there was an argument and yeah, maybe she was in your face. But look where we're at now and look what happened. And I just I just think at some point, Bryce, you need to deal with it. Because if you don't if you're just going to continue this story of that she was in your box and that's why you shot her, it just doesn't make any sense. If it does, if you have a way of explaining it to me better, like if there's more to it, I'm all ears, man. We can sit here for [ __ ] 10 hours if you want. Cuz I can tell you what I know, right? I wasn't there with you, right? But I was listening to the call. I was listening to the 911 call. There was no fighting going on. There was no physical activity going on when she was calling 911. For the sake of your two boys who were present. One of your boys witnessed it. And he's being a complete man right now at his little age. Bryce, what? Your oldest. Okay. So, for the sake of your two children and your daughter wasn't there, right? You You have a You have a piece of redemption here to where you can be a man just like your oldest boy. Cuz he knows what happened. Gentlemen, I think we're done here for the morning. I need to get some sleep. Need Need to do a little bit of praying. I don't um Man, sucks that that I can't get a freaking blanket or pillow, but there's some things that I need to do. All right. Uh it's not a not on me or you, but We understand, man. Appreciate your time. I appreciate you all humoring me. Yeah, I'm not I'm not here trying to [ __ ] you, waste your time, waste your time. I don't know if you all are hourly paid or paid salary. I'm assuming you're hourly paid cuz by the county. Uh I mean the [ __ ] I mean, I know it sounds stupid as hell, but a blanket and a [ __ ] pillow sounds like a creature comfort to me right now. Understood. Uh Damn. Yeah. Good? I guess. We're about as good as we can be. Understood. I need that. No, my head hurts. Ow. I heard you uh trying to make a call. Was it a wrong number? >> to call my mother. Okay. You You know the number? Yeah. Okay. Bryce was subsequently charged with first-degree murder. When the trial began in January 2025, the defense had a steep hill to climb. They didn't just have to overcome the physical evidence, they had to fight Bryce's own words. The courtroom sat in silence as the 911 audio played, Bryce taunting his dying wife, telling her exactly what he had done. The jury also heard from one of the couple's young sons who had to testify about the night his father turned into a monster. The deliberation didn't take long, just under 3 hours. The verdict was swift and absolute. Guilty of first-degree premeditated murder. The sentence was mandatory, life in prison without the possibility of parole.