A 25-year-old Henry County man who pled guilty to killing four people was sentenced February 8 to spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.

  Jacob Kosky also agreed to waive all rights to appeal his sentence, handed down by Henry County Superior Court Senior Judge Arch McGarity, of four consecutive life sentences plus an additional five years to serve. Kosky pled guilty but mentally ill to four counts of malice murder and eight counts of felony murder, along with multiple counts of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and theft by taking, according to a statement by the Henry County District Attorney’s Office.

  The report stated that Kosky and codefendant Matthew Baker Jr., 21, attended a bonfire party in October of 2016 at a home on Moccasin Gap Road in south Henry County. The investigation revealed that the two men exited the house during the night, returned with guns and then opened fire.

  The victims were found inside the house within a few hours. Three were dead at the scene: Matthew Hicks, 18; Keith Gibson, 29; and Sophia Bullard, 20. The fourth – Destiny Olinger, 20 – was found suffering from at least one gunshot wound. She died two days later at the hospital.

  The DA’s office filed notice in 2017 to seek the death penalty for Kosky, but that was withdrawn under the plea agreement in exchange for the sentence of life without parole.

  On the day of sentencing, Kosky’s lawyers presented evidence of his mental health problems. The judge then ruled that Kosky was responsible for his actions in killing the four victims, but was mentally ill when he opened fire on the victims.

  Prior to sentencing, the families of the victims testified before the judge as to how much Kosky’s actions impacted their lives and asked the judge to accept the negotiated plea.

  “The decision to move forward with this plea was made in conjunction with input from all of the victims’ families,” Henry County District Attorney Darius Pattillo said. “This plea is one step toward closure for the victims’ families by guaranteeing that Jacob Kosky is held accountable for his actions and never gets out of the prison system.”   Baker’s charges are pending and he will be prosecuted at a later date.