A former mixed martial arts fighter who ripped out his friend's heart and cooked it pleaded guilty to first degree murder in a Northern California courtroom Thursday night. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the gruesome crime.

Jarrod Wyatt, 27, stood accused of murdering his friend Taylor Powell, 21, in the early morning hours of March 21, 2010 while tripping on mushrooms.

According to the Eureka Times-Standard, Wyatt cut an 18-inch hole in Powell's chest before removing his heart and tongue. An autopsy determined that the organs had been removed while Powell was still alive.

And what was later determined to be Powell's heart was found charred in a wood-burning stove in the home, according to Dr. Neil Kushner, who performed the autopsy.

Del Norte County District Attorney Jon Alexander said Wyatt's attorney James Fallman approached him Wednesday, asking if the prosecution would agree to a deal where Wyatt would plead guilty to second degree murder, ultimately serving 41 years to life in prison.

”I said we would accept first degree murder and nothing less than 50 years to life,” Alexander told the paper.

He said Wyatt and Powell's family agreed to the plea deal, which involves two consecutive sentences of 25 years to life.

Alexander said it was important to him that Wyatt admitted to killing Powell, and that it was a premeditated murder that wasn't the result of drinking psychedelic mushroom tea.

”I wanted him to admit this wasn't the product of drug delusion,” Alexander said.
Wyatt is scheduled to be officially sentenced Oct. 4.