Portland man sentenced to life for brutal murder

Thomas Colon has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Andrew Hathaway. He will be eligible for parole in 26 years. The crime occurred on September 4, 2018, after Colon and Hathaway argued over a drug debt. Hathaway, 28, was found dead with 60 stab wounds in the kitchen of a home in Northeast Portland. During the incident, nobody called for help. Two other men stayed silent as Colon disposed of Hathaway’s body in the trunk of Hathaway’s mother's car. Colon and his accomplice, Samuel Herrera, returned the next day to set the car on fire. Judge Christopher Ramras called the cover-up "heinous" and added more time to Colon’s sentence, stating there should be punishment for "desecrating someone’s body." Hathaway’s family spoke during the hearing. His mother, Morgan Hathaway, recalled her son's troubled life and his struggles with drugs. His father, Christopher Bennett, shared letters he had exchanged with Andrew while in prison. He expressed his heartbreak over his son's death. Colon did not speak during the sentencing. Herrera, who testified against Colon, received a lighter sentence of three years of probation. Adam Phetsomphou, who helped cover up the crime, has not been charged but is in prison for a different offense.