How a brutal crime and an attorney's action put a meth-fueled felon behind bars for life.

KENNETT, Mo. - It was a horrific incident.

A vicious series of heinous acts that led to a police standoff at Senath resulted in one man's imprisonment for more than 100 years.

"It was the most violent crime I've had that didn't result in deaths," said Dunklin County Asst. Prosecuting Attorney Ryan Dicus. "And the highest number of years sentenced that I've ever seen."

Dicus prosecuted the case against Kenneth Lee Canday, a 25-year-old Kennett man who matured in the prison system.

In January 2024, Canday, who was released from a jail term just 31 days prior, and an unnamed accomplice tortured an older man.

When police arrived, Canday took hostages.

Eight hours into a life-threatening standoff, with a determined SWAT team outside, Canday was taken into custody.

"It was an ugly assault at that house," Dicus said. "It turned into a long hostage situation.

"Testimony provided at trial indicated he was using meth the entire time," he added. "Smoking meth throughout the entire ordeal.”

Canday was charged with kidnapping, various degrees of assault, robbery, and resisting arrest, among other crimes.

Dicus' persuasive words that ended the trial were both significant and crucial to the prosecution.

“The very idea of this man cutting a victim is inconceivable to us," Dicus said. "Burning him.

"Choking him," he continued. "Beating him. Robbing him. It's almost too much to believe.”

But the jury did believe it.

Every fact.

Every word.

And once it retired to deliberate, the jury's decision arrived in just under two hours.

Those Pemiscot County jurors found Canday guilty and recommended that Canday serve a total of 102 years of imprisonment.

34th Judicial District Circuit Court Presiding Judge Joshua Underwood sentenced Canday.

And Dicus is grateful the jury understood the incredibly cruel nature of the crime.

"The evidence of guilt was overwhelming," the attorney said. "It all added up for the jury.

"He's a danger to society," Dicus added. "And I’m proud of our law enforcement officers helping to keep the public safe.”

The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Dunklin County Sheriff's Office, the Sikeston Department of Public Safety's SWAT team, the Senath Police Department, and the Hornersville Police Department all were instrumental in Canday's arrest.