Replay: Inmate Thomas Woodard’s sentencing for killing Anamosa prison workers Robert McFarland and Lorena Schulte

From The Associated Press:

ANAMOSA, Iowa (AP) - An inmate who confessed in court to using a hammer to kill a nurse and correctional officer during an escape attempt at an Iowa prison has been sentenced to life in prison.

Thomas Woodard Jr. was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty earlier this month to two counts of first-degree murder, as well as to kidnapping and attempted murder counts.

Prosecutors have said Woodard and his co-defendant, 29-year-old Michael Dutcher, carried out the March 23 hammer attacks at Anamosa State Penitentiary on 50-year-old nurse Lorena Schulte and 46-year-old correctional officer Robert McFarland. Woodard also admitted to bludgeoning an inmate who tried to stop the attack and briefly holding another female employee as a hostage.

Dutcher has pleaded not guilty to the same murder, attempted murder and kidnapping charges in the case and is awaiting trial.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press.

About Thursday’s live coverage

Watch the live video stream above and read tweets below from reporter Trish Mehaffey, who was in Jones County District Court for the sentencing hearing of Thomas Woodard. The hearing was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 26.

Earlier this month, Woodard pleaded guilty on two counts of first-degree murder, and one count each of attempted murder and second-degree kidnapping for the March attacks on correctional officer Robert McFarland and prison nurse Lorena Schulte.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Read earlier articles about the Anamosa State Penitentiary attack and court developments for Woodard and Michael Dutcher

Trish Mehaffey’s live coverage: