Joshua Kelly-Morris, a 24-year-old Bethel resident, has been sentenced to 7 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. The charge stemmed from a fatal fight in a Bethel home in 2022 that resulted in the death of 21-year-old Ian Makaily.
According to legal authorities, Kelly-Morris was initially charged with first-degree murder. Details surrounding the fight remain unclear, but witness statements allege Kelly-Morris and Makaily were heard arguing downstairs before Kelly-Morris informed others upstairs that Makaily was dead. Based on these statements, Bethel police apprehended Kelly-Morris.
As part of a plea agreement, Kelly-Morris pled guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. Bethel Superior Court Judge William Montgomery handed down the sentence on June 14, 2024. The total sentence includes 15 years in prison with 8 years suspended, leaving Kelly-Morris with 7 years to serve behind bars. Following his release, he will be subject to 10 years of probation.
