Man gets life sentence in fatal box-cutter attack

A 26-year-old Olathe man was sentenced to life in prison Monday for murdering another man with a box cutter.

The body of Stephen Cook, 57, of California, was found June 29, 2010 in a bathroom at the Econo Lodge at 209 E. Flaming Road. Cook had bled to death from numerous cuts, according to an autopsy report. He also had a broken sternum and broken ribs.

Maurice Orlando Stewart had occupied the room next to Cook. A jury convicted him of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, burglary and theft.

Johnson County District Court Judge Kelly Ryan also sentenced Stewart to an additional 102 months on the robbery charge. He will not be eligible for parole for 20 years.

This story was originally published March 31, 2014 at 5:43 PM with the headline "Man gets life sentence in fatal box-cutter attack."