PROVO — Police believe a Provo man planned an escape attempt before his was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Damien Candland, 23, was formally sentenced Thursday to life in prison for killing and raping his aunt. Jail officials say they had information that he was planning an escape before his formal sentencing, so the day before he appeared in court, deputies searched his jail cell.
“We found a makeshift handcuff key that we had information on that he was practicing to get in and out of his handcuffs,” said Utah County Sheriff's Lt. Dennis Harris.
The key was hidden inside a bottle of lotion and was made with the metal portion of some sunglasses.
Candland's plan was probably to try to get out of the handcuffs sometimes during transport, Harris said. He is now facing a charge of possession of an escape device.
Candland was charged in the death of his aunt Amy Candland, 41, whose body was found by hikers in Hobble Creek Canyon on Feb. 21, 2010. Police said she had been beaten, raped and strangled.
Candland pleaded guilty to the aggravated murder charge. In exchange, prosecutors dropped additional charges of rape and obstruction of justice.