Andrew Britton, 26, of De Soto was sentenced to 17 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of beating and stabbing a 61-year-old man to death.
On Feb. 10, a Jefferson County jury convicted Britton of voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action for killing Randy L. Sitze on Jan. 11, 2019.
On April 21, Jefferson County Div. 5 Circuit Judge Joseph Melenbrink sentenced Britton to 14 years for manslaughter and three years for armed criminal action. The sentences will be served consecutively, for a total of 17 years, according to court records.
Assistant prosecuting attorneys Courtney Goodwin and Tiffany Baker handled the case.
According to the probable-cause statement, Britton and Sitze were associates, and while the two were at Sitze's De Soto home, Britton hit Sitze on the head several times and stabbed him several times in the neck and upper chest, the probable-cause statement in the case said.
Britton told Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies that he struck the victim with what could have been a candle holder until he believed Sitze was brain dead. However, he said Sitze was still breathing, so he stabbed him, the report said.
Britton admitted to being paranoid and having thoughts and actions out of his control, which led him to attack Sitze after being provoked, according to the report.
Authorities said Britton provided details about Sitze’s death that only a suspect would know, such as items removed from the home, items that were altered and injuries to the victim.
Sitze shared a home in the 100 block of West Lakeview Drive with his mother, who found him dead in their basement, authorities reported.
The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis assisted with the homicide investigation.