Lexington County man sentenced to 35 years in prison for 2013 slaying

A Lexington County man was sentenced to 35 years in prison after a jury convicted him Monday of a 2013 stabbing death.

Worth Edward Cook III, 30, was convicted of murder for the slaying of David Diblasi, 54, according to a news release from county prosecutors. Diblasi was last seen on February 25, 2013. Lexington County deputies arrested Cook eight days later after he was spotted using the victim’s credit card at a local merchant.

Investigators found Diblasi’s body in a shallow, unmarked grave at Cook’s home, according to the release. An autopsy showed he had been stabbed 12 times, including the fatal stab through an eye socket.

Cook had prior convictions for burglary and manufacturing methamphetamine, according to the release. He was on probation at the time of the killing. The jury reached a verdict in the murder case after a weeklong trial.

This story was originally published March 7, 2016 at 4:10 PM.