“I did it”: Killer learns his fate after stabbing Facebook Marketplace seller in front of his wife and child
A Florida man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after a dispute over a Facebook Marketplace vehicle sale ended in a fatal stabbing. The disagreement reportedly involved ownership paperwork that the buyer had not received after purchasing the car.
According to Law&Crime, Joseph Michael Lynch, 47, pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and burglary with assault or battery in the death of Kenny Dale Ashby, 33. Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark imposed 40 years for each charge, with the sentences running concurrently.
Prosecutors announced the sentence on October 23, 2026, following the July 3 attack in Springfield, Florida. Ashby’s wife, young daughter, and three other adults were reportedly inside the residence during the incident. Police later located Lynch nearby and reported that he made a statement acknowledging what had happened.
The conflict started days before the attack
According to the report, Lynch bought a vehicle from Ashby through Facebook Marketplace several days before the attack. He did not receive its title, the document used to establish vehicle ownership. Ashby was said to have promised to locate it, but prosecutors said Lynch became upset over the delay.
On July 3, around 11:30 p.m., Lynch reportedly arrived at Ashby’s home on Ormond Avenue in Springfield, approximately three miles east of Panama City. Authorities said he kicked down the door and stabbed Ashby multiple times using two knives.
Prosecutors alleged that Lynch took the occupants’ cellphones before fleeing. He reportedly told people outside to call 911. Responding officers found Ashby with multiple stab wounds and arranged his transport to Ascension Sacred Heart Bay. He died at the hospital early on July 4.
Witnesses reportedly directed police toward a driveway several houses away. Officers reportedly found Lynch lying face down on a nearby street. Investigators said he told them, “I did it,” before they arrested him.
Authorities said they recovered two knives allegedly connected to the stabbing. One was found inside the residence near where Ashby had collapsed, while the other was located outside, according to prosecutors. They were prepared to present evidence about the vehicle dispute and the attack if the case proceeded to trial.
The state attorney’s office said the stabbing occurred after a dispute that had continued for several days. The release identified the people inside the home as potential witnesses to the incident. Prosecutors had been preparing to explain the sequence of events to jurors, including the earlier sale and Lynch’s arrival at the residence. The plea meant those allegations were not tested through testimony at a jury trial.
Instead, Lynch entered a no-contest plea in October. This plea allows a conviction without a formal admission of guilt. His concurrent sentences mean he received a total prison term of 40 years rather than 80.
Prosecutor Peter Overstreet said, “This was a senseless and violent attack, and for the family members of the victim we are glad that justice was quickly served.” He added, “The family agreed with the plea and the 40 years in prison which essentially is a life sentence for this defendant.”
Ashby’s widow addressed the court during sentencing. “This loss has shattered this family completely; we have no sense of safety anymore, not even in our own home,” she said.
She continued, “The quiet hours of the night are filled with painful memories and recurring trauma. I relive that night all day every day. Kenny didn’t die once, he dies every day 100 times a day for each of us.”
Prosecutors also read a statement written by Ashby’s daughter. “I want to express what the murder of my dad has done to me and my family,” she wrote. “The life he lived, the love he gave, and the pain he left behind. Some people say a girl’s first love is their brother, but mine was my dad.”
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