CASSOPOLIS — The Cass County Circuit courtroom in Cassopolis was filled with emotion Friday morning as both the families of a murderer and a victim sat in the same room, awaiting the fate of the perpetrator of a 2017 murder.

Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman sentenced William Lee Henderson, 24, of Elkhart, to 30 to 60 years in prison for the second-degree murder of Jan Carlos Velazquez Mendez, also of Elkhart. Mendez was 24 at the time of his death.

Henderson pleaded guilty to the charge on Feb. 26.

The murder occurred on Jan. 11, 2017, at the Ameri-Kart Factory in Mason Township, where both Henderson and Mendez worked. On the day of the murder, Henderson approached Mendez and stabbed him multiple times in the neck and torso. Mendez died at the scene from his injuries, and Henderson, reportedly calm after the incident, was arrested once police arrived.

According to court testimony, the two had worked together prior to the murder, and Henderson felt “disrespected” by Mendez at work, which led to the altercation.

Beyond that, the details leading up to the murder were disputed by both the prosecution and the defense.

Henderson’s defense attorney Gregory Feldman said that Henderson was provoked, while Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz argued that not only was the attack unprovoked, but premeditated. Fitz’s stance was based on a police interview Henderson gave in which he said that he thought about attacking Mendez for a window of around 15 minutes before the murder. In the same interview, Henderson said that he thought about stabbing Mendez and stuffing his body into a dumpster prior to the murder.

“Premeditation does not be need to be sophisticated,” Fitz said. “You only need to have time to think twice.”

Fitz went on to testify that Mendez was a family man, gesturing toward the many family members of Mendez’s who attended the sentencing hearing, several of whom had travelled from their native Puerto Rico.

“[Mendez] loved his family. … Now, he will never be there for the birthday of his son,” Fitz said showing the court a framed photo of Mendez cradling his young son. “This is a man who loved those around him. He probably even loved the defendant in this case. … [Henderson] didn’t think about those around him [when he killed Mendez].”

Fitz also called Mendez’s partner and the mother of his child, Janeska Rivera, to speak at sentencing.

Through choked, tearful words, Rivera said she could not understand why Mendez was taken from her “for no apparent reason.” She said that because she, Mendez and his family are people of faith, they know that Mendez is currently enjoying eternal life. She asked that God forgive Henderson for what he has done.

“We have lost the person we love so much and are trying to continue our lives,” Rivera said. “You [Henderson] have caused a great pain in us and a nightmare that will last the rest of our days. Even still, we ask God for you, so that you can get to him. Only he will give you the forgiveness. We hurt too much to try to forgive you.”

During sentencing, Henderson said he takes responsibility for and regrets killing Mendez and will continue to do so every day for the rest of his life. Since his arrest for the murder in January 2017, Henderson said he decided to devote his life to God.

“It will take a long time for me to forgive myself. … I hope that one day [Mendez’s family] can forgive me,” Henderson said. “Now, I must rely on [God’s] path.”

Judge Herman said that despite the serious and tragic nature of the crime, he believed Henderson was sincere in his desire to change his life.

“This is a sad day. There is nothing the courts can do that is going to bring everyone back to where they wish they were,” Herman said. “Mr. Mendez’s family will obviously never have him back and Mr. Henderson’s family is also losing a son.”

Herman said that the only thing for all involved to do now is move forward, adding that he hopes that Henderson will be able to use his newfound devotion to God in a positive way.

“Maybe one day you will be able to help some other lost soul going down the same road you went down,” Herman said to Henderson before handing down his sentence.

Henderson’s sentence will run concurrent with a sentence for a firearms’ charge in Elkhart County. Henderson received credit for 450 days already served toward his sentence.