UPDATE 7/21/10 @ 2:30 p.m.
JACKSON, Ohio (WSAZ) – A guilty plea Wednesday for the man arrested and charged in the stabbing death of a woman, and the wounding of another man.

Common Pleas Court Judge, Leonard Holzapfel says Wade Gaunt, 44, of Jackson, Ohio pleaded guilty to aggravated murder, attempted murder and fleeing & eluding in the death of 38-year-old Maria Colvin, and the wounding of Jose Xoxhicale of Portsmouth.

The crime happened back in March at a home on Clay Banner Road in Jackson County, Ohio.

Following the plea, Holzapfel sentenced Gaunt to life with a chance for parole after 25 years.

The judge says Colvin’s family agreed to plea because they did not want to go through the pain and emotions of a trial.

Wade Gaunt, 44, of Jackson, Ohio is charged with killing 38-year-old Maria Colvin of Clay Banner Road in Jackson County, Ohio.

Police say that Gaunt also stabbed Jose Xoxhicale of Portsmouth. He survived the attacked that happened last month.

Prosecutors say that officers from Oak Hill Police Department, Ohio Highway Patrol and Jackson Police Department testified during the hearing.

Wes Skaggs with the Oak Hill Police Department said that Xoxhicale was clothed when he arrived at the scene. Skaggs also said that Xoxhicale identified Gaunt as the person who did the stabbing.

Trooper Jason Rowe testified that Gaunt’s clothes were wet with blood when he was caught.

The Jackson Officer testified that Gaunt told him he blacked out after party but admitted throwing out knife on Franklin Valley Road.

Following the testimony, the case was bound over to the Jackson County Common Pleas Court for presentation to a grand jury.

Gaunt’s bond remains at $1.5 million

UPDATE: Monday, March 29 from 6pm Newscast
JACKSON, Ohio (WSAZ) -- Jackson County Sheriff John Shasteen says jealousy, rage and alcohol fueled a weekend murder near Oak Hill, which some are calling "the hot tub homicide."

A hot tub is where Shasteen says the vicious stabbings took place early Sunday morning. He says the suspect, who has since been arrested, is a multi-state offender on an FBI criminal list.

The murder victim is a local woman. The second victim, a partner in the hot tub with the woman, is recovering from a slashed throat. And two young children are now without both parents.

The next door neighbor who called 911 says what he saw was like something from a horror movie. Shasteen says there were arguments and threats between Maria Colvin, 39, and her ex-boyfriend Wade Gaunt at a local party.

Shasteen says Colvin left, went to her rural Clay Banner Road home and met up with Jose Xochiclae in her hot tub. Shasteen says an intoxicated Gaunt also showed up, slashed the tires on six cars in the front and then went straight to the hot tub with knife in hand.

"He cut the man's throat and then stabbed the victim to death," Shasteen said. "As a result of his actions, Maria died in her own yard."

Gaunt, the murder suspect had nothing to say, caught after a high-speed chase and foot pursuit. Shasteen says Gaunt cut Xochiclae's throat and stabbed Colvin to death with her 15-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son inside the home, aware of the terror outside.

"They heard what was going on and saw the aftermath of their mother's death," Shasteen said. "The motive seemed to be jealousy. It was brutal, a very ugly scene."

The sheriff says the children's father, long divorced from Colvin, died last October from a heart attack.

We're told Xochiclae is in stable condition.

Gaunt's felony charges include murder and fleeing. The prosecutor says aggravated murder and assault charges may be presented to the next grand jury.

Gaunt is in jail on a $1.5 million bond. His preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday, April 6.

Sheriff John Shasteen tells WSAZ.com that the victim is 38-year-old Maria Colvin of Clay Banner Road.

Shasteen says Colvin was found stabbed to death in the yard of her house shortly after 1:30 Sunday morning.

Deputies say Jose Xoxhicale of Portsmouth was also stabbed in the attack. He was found with several stab wounds to the neck and was airlifted to Cabell Huntington Hospital, according to the Sheriff. His condition is not available.

The Sheriff says neighbors gave deputies a description of a vehicle that fled the scene shortly after the stabbings. Shasteen says Jackson Police and the Ohio Highway Patrol spotted that vehicle a short time later and got into a high speed chase with the driver.

Officers finally stopped the vehicle and arrested Wade Gaunt, 44, of Jackson, Ohio.

Gaunt was originally charged with driving under suspension, driving under the Influence and fleeing and eluding.

Monday morning, prosecutors charged Gaunt with murder.

During his arraignment on the murder and fleeing charge, Gaunt's bond was set at $1.5 million. A preliminary hearing was then set for April 6.

Sheriff Shasteen tells WSAZ.com that Gaunt is a former boyfriend of Colvin

According to Shasteen, Gaunt and Colvin were at a party together Saturday night.

He says there was drinking at the party. Sheriff Shasteen says the two had problems at the party and threats were exchanged between them.

The Sheriff says Colvin went home and met up with Xoxhicale.

Shasteen says Gaunt followed them and slashed the tires of six cars in front of Colvin's home. After that, he went around to the back of the house where Colvin and Xoxhicale were in a hot tub. The Sheriff says Gaunt slashed Jose's throat. Colvin ran. Gaunt chased her down and stabbed her multiple times.

Colvin's 15-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son were inside the house. The Sheriff says they heard their mother screaming as she was being stabbed.

Sheriff Shasteen tells WSAZ.com that Gaunt is a multi-state criminal offender. He's on the FBI's list. In Kansas he's charged with assault, threatening and trespassing.

Gaunt is being held in the Jackson County Jail.

If you would like to share a picture of the victim with WSAZ.com, please email us at news@wsaz.com.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for updated information.

According to a deputy at the Jackson County Sheriff's Department, the attacks happened at about 1:30 a.m. on Clay Banner Road.

The man was taken to the hospital. The victims names are not being released.

Little information is being given out right now. However, deputies do say there is a suspect in custody. His name is not being released.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for updates.