Mixed martial arts fighter Jarrod Wyatt faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated mayhem and torture in the death of his 21-year-old sparring partner Taylor Powell, whose body was found mutilated in Northern California on March 21.
The 26-year-old fighter was reportedly under the influence of psychedelic drugs, including "mushroom tea," when witnesses said he and Powell began believing that the end of the world was near and that there would be a struggle between God and the devil, according to the Times-Standard.
Del Norte County police Sgt. Elwood Lee was one of the first to respond to the incident.
"At one point," Lee said in court, "[Wyatt] asked if we were God, or if we were God coming to save him."
According to Lee, Wyatt said that he "'saw the devil in Powell's face'" and that "'Satan was in that dude'" before he allegedly cut a hole in Powell's chest and removed his heart. He then went on to remove the majority of the victim's face.
"My client was trying to silence the devil," defense attorney James Fallman stated.
