Zebulon Aaron of Lafayette County, Ark., pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years in prison Monday for the death of James Langston, 53, of Lewisville, Ark.
Aaron allegedly stabbed the victim with an ice pick.
Eighth Judicial South Circuit Court Judge Kirk D. Johnson sentenced Aaron to 30 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction for first-degree murder..
The stabbing occured Jan. 14, 2016, in the early morning hours. Langston died Jan. 22 in a Little Rock hospital.
The arrest affidavit, prepared by Arkansas State Police Special Agent John Rhone, said on Jan. 14, 2016, the Lafayette County Ambulance Service received a call from
Pafford Ambulance Services about an unresponsive man, later identified as Langston.
The responding medic said the victim was found on the living room floor. The medic said the patient was unresponsive and had blood coming out of his left ear. The medic said a female was in the house and said she woke up about 4 a.m. and found Langston unresponsive.
The ambulance service took Langston to Wadley Regional Medical Center in Texarkana. Because of his declining condition, he was moved to CHRISTUS St. Michael's Health Center.
The report said the medical staff referred Langston to St. Vincent's Hospital in Little Rock for more advanced medical treatment.
About 8:45 p.m. the day of the stabbing, the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office was notified by the Little Rock Police Department about Langston's wound.
Neurologist Dr. Ali Krisht said Langston had been stabbed at the top of the left ear. The object used appears to have penetrated the skull about 3 to 4 inches into his brain.
The report said on Jan. 15, 2016, Aaron confessed to stabbing Langston in the left ear with an ice pick while he was lying on the couch.
No reason for the stabbing was listed in the report.