Wyndham Lathem, former NU professor found guilty in boyfriend's murder, sentenced to 53 years

COOK COUNTY, Ill. (WLS) -- A sentencing hearing was underway at the George N Leighton Criminal Courthouse for Wyndham Lathem, the former Northwestern professor found guilty of brutally killing his boyfriend.

Lathem was sentenced to 53 years in prison.

The sentencing range was between 20 and 60 years in prison, but the judge said he wanted to stay on the higher end. He said it is an extreme sentence for an extreme crime.

SEE ALSO | Former Northwestern professor Wyndham Lathem guilty of murder of Trent Cornell-Duranleau

Lathem stabbed his then-boyfriend Trent Cornell-Duranleau to death in his River North high rise home as part of what prosecutors said was an elaborate sexual fantasy.

He was helped by Oxford University employee and British national Andrew Warren.

Warren said the two men made a pact to kill each other: he would shoot Lathem, who would in return "cut [him] open, fatally wound [him]." Lathem flew him to Chicago in July 2017, where they did drugs before driving to St. Louis to unsuccessfully attempt to buy a gun, Warren said. Lathem then suggested they kill Cornell-Duranleau, Warren said. He had second thoughts, but eventually joined Lathem in stabbing the 26-year-old hairstylist nearly 70 times, nearly decapitating him.

RELATED | British national recounts murder plot during trial of former Northwestern professor Wyndham Lathem

Lathem and Warren made anonymous donations in Cornell-Duranleau's name and failed at a suicide attempt after the stabbing, Warren said.

The two men drove cross country to California, where they turned themselves in to authorities eight days after the stabbing, Warren said.