Madison man sentenced to prison for attempting to kill prom date's father over dress dispute

MADISON — A Madison teenager has been sentenced to five years in prison for trying to kill the father of his former prom date last year.

Eighteen-year-old Tyler Bexson was sentenced Friday, April 1st after pleading guilty in January to attempted first-degree intentional homicide. Charges of first-degree reckless injury and armed burglary were dismissed.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports prosecutors had recommend Bexson receive 10 years in prison while the defense argued for probation.

Authorities say Bexson was angry after the girl he had asked to prom declined and he had been told to help pay for her dress. Bexson tried to break into the Stoughton home of the girl's family on April 30th, then hit her father with a shovel and stabbed him seven times after the man confronted him outside.