Bend man who admitted killing his mother receives nearly 28-year prison term for manslaughter, other crimes

KTVZ on July 11, 2025

Barney Lerten

(Update: Smith sentenced to nearly 28 years in prison)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — On the day of his scheduled murder trial for killing his mother, a Bend man was sentenced Tuesday to nearly 28 years in prison on a reduced charge of manslaughter, along with two other crimes.

Joshua Lawrence Smith, 42, was arrested on a second-degree murder charge after the March 20, 2024 killing of his mother, Janice Marie Smith, 59, at the Legacy Landing Apartments in northeast Bend.

Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels told KTVZ News last year that Smith’s mother died of blunt force trauma after a “violent physical interaction” between the mother and son.

Smith’s eight-day murder trial initially was set for April, but was delayed three months at his attorney’s request, seeking more time to prepare and review evidence. He was sentenced on the day the trial was set to begin.

The murder charge alleged Smith “unlawfully and intentionally” caused his mother’s death. In the plea petition Smith signed on July 3 and included below, he admitted having “unlawfully and recklessly” caused her death “under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.”

The petition said prosecutors and the defense would jointly recommend that Circuit Judge Alycia Herriott sentence Smith to 20 years in prison, including 10 years as a Measure 11 crime and the first 10 for which he will be “eligible for good time.” Herriott agreed to those terms, court records show, and Smith also was ordered to pay $2,010 in crime victim restitution.

Smith also admitted to criminal mistreatment in the killing, a charge connected to the victim’s senior age. That brought a recommended five-year prison term, including 33 months served consecutively to the manslaughter conviction and 27 months concurrently

Smith also signed a separate plea petition on July 2, admitting to aggravated harassment that brought a recommended 50 months (just over four years) in prison, admitting he spat on a Bend Police detective.

Gunnels told us Wednesday, “The victim’s daughter and defendant’s sister, Jessica Smith, was present and made a statement to the judge before sentencing. She told the judge how much she missed her mother and that she did not believe her brother had killed their mother on purpose.

“She said this happened because he was not on his medication, but she will be there for him when he gets out of prison someday. She agreed with the sentence imposed by the court,” the DA said.

Smith also spoke to the judge and courtroom, when it was his time to make a statement.

“He said he regretted what happened that day and he appreciated that his family was in court to support him,” Gunnels said.