John Bridges Sentenced to Life in Prison for Axe Murder - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

A Bismarck murderer is being described as the most psychotic and dangerous person the psychologist has ever evaluated.

John Bridges is sentenced to life in prison plus twenty years for the kidnapping and killing of Lee Clay.

It's a bizarre case that was only discovered after Bridges crashed his van near Bismarck on Interstate 94 in July.

Donnell Preskey has the story from Bridge's sentencing hearing.

Judge Cynthia Feland says, "It's been reported that this psychologist has never seen anyone as psychopathic or dangerous as you are."

Disturbing words about a man who was living in Bismarck, plotting to kill anyone he thought could be doing him wrong.

"He dislikes people, violence is a way of life for him," says Assistant Burleigh County State's Attorney Lloyd Suhr

42-year-old John Bridges kidnapped and killed 40 year old Lee Clay.

Suhr says it was premeditated, Bridges bought a knife, zip ties, duct tape and even found a remote location to dump the body. His plan to do away with Clay and another man after he had a "vision" that the men were recording him.

"Lee Clay did nothing, here looking for work. He met the wrong person at the wrong time. He was held at knife point, duct taped and murdered on the Interstate," says Suhr.

Suhr says Bridge's paranoia lead to the murder of the man he knew for just a few days.

Regardless, Bridge's has had no remorse for the killing.

"He's disappointment in self for getting caught rather than disappointment in doing what he did. This is somebody who needs to be locked up for the rest of his life so he can't do this to anybody again," says Suhr.

What's alarming is that Bridge's criminal history started when he was a teenager. His parents called police concerned about his mental state. Officers reported that Bridges at 15 just seemed to want to kill. And he did. One year later he shot and killed an 18 year old man. A year after that he assaulted a correctional officer.

Judge Feland says, "If your actions would have gone like you wanted them to have gone, not only would we be dealing with one fatality, we would be dealing with two. They both would have disappeared and you would have been out on the street."

Judge Feland continues, "View people as animals and you hunt them."

Bridges responds, "Yeah, I hunt a little."

(Feland) "It is clear to this court that the only way the public is safe is for you to not have the opportunity to pry upon an unsuspecting person again." Therefore you are sentenced to life."

Again, John Bridge's sentence is for life in prison without parole for the murder. He was also given 20 years for kidnapping which is to run consecutive.