MOUNT VERNON — A Knox County teen accused of murdering his father inside their Apple Valley home has agreed to plead guilty to aggravated murder.
Authorities arrested Brice Hay on Dec. 9, 2025, on charges of aggravated murder and murder in the stabbing death of his father, Kevin Hay.
According to a joint plea agreement, Hay pleaded guilty on Sept. 3 to the aggravated murder charge, with a sentence of life imprisonment with parole eligibility in 20 years.
The murder charge was dismissed.
Hay was 17 at the time of the incident.
“Under the law as it applies to aggravated murders committed by juveniles, because he was 17 at the time, there are only two possible sentences: 20 to life and 25 to life,” Knox County Prosecutor Chip McConville said.
“We had a joint recommendation on a sentence of 20 years to life, with a few caveats. The state is not going to take any position on release at any future parole proceedings, and he’s going to waive any rights of appeal of the sentence.”
Common Pleas Judge Richard Wetzel set Hay’s sentencing for Oct. 8.
Hay remains in the Knox County Jail
Brice’s parents were separated. He was living with his father on King Road because his parents agreed his father would provide a better authority figure.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of suicide or attempted suicide around 6:15 p.m. on Dec. 9. Authorities found Kevin Hay deceased inside the front door.
In a Feb. 21 hearing to determine whether Hay would be tried as an adult, KCSO Lt. Craig Feeney testified that things did not add up with Hay’s 911 call stating his father stabbed himself.
Additionally, Hay changed his story several times when talking with Feeney and a BCI agent.
Juvenile Judge Jay Nixon ruled on Feb. 12 that Hay was competent to stand trial. He later ruled Hay would be tried as an adult.
In March, Hay entered a plea of guilty by reason of insanity. He underwent evaluation to determine his mental condition at the time of the offense.
A May 27 hearing found that Hay had “knowledge of wrongfulness.”
“That [hearing] found that he was not suffering from a severe mental defect, and he had knowledge of loss,” McConville said.
Because Hay was a juvenile at the time of the stabbing, he was held in the Muskingum County Juvenile Detention Center.
When he turned 18 in July, he was transferred to the Knox County Jail. He did not post a $250,000 bond and remained in custody.
Judge Wetzel revoked Hay’s bond when he pleaded guilty, according to McConville.
Hay remains in the Knox County Jail.
