BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — A Big Rapids man will spend life in prison for the brutal murder of 36-year-old Ashley Nicole Godfrey.
Daykota Handrich, 25, was found guilty of first-degree murder after a four-day trial in November.
Handrich was charged with open murder in June of 2022 for strangling and beating Godfrey to death, then leaving her body White Pine Trail.
The body was discovered by police on the trail near Colburn Avenue around 1:30 a.m. on Friday, June 3, 2022.
Handrich was identified and arrested by the Big Rapids Police Department on the same day as the murder. Police said that Handrich and Godfrey were acquaintances.
The case was transferred to the Department of Attorney General for prosecution at trial in the spring of 2023.
The jury deliberated for less than five hours before delivering the guilty verdict for first-degree murder.
On Monday, Handrich received a life-sentence without the possibility of parole by Judge Kimberly Booher of the 49th Circuit Court in Mecosta County.
“I would like to thank the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety, the Michigan State Police, and the Mecosta County Prosecutor’s Office for their diligent investigative efforts and support during this prosecution,” said Nessel at the time of Handrich’s conviction.
“I am grateful we were able to secure justice for the family and community mourning Ashley’s death. My Department remains committed to assisting local prosecutors when we can with resource and time intensive prosecutions and trials.”
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