COEUR d'ALENE - Larry W. Cragun won't be eligible for parole for 30 years.

First District Court Judge Benjamin Simpson on Tuesday sentenced the 32-year-old Cragun to life in prison for the December 2010 murder of 43-year-old Patty Heath in Bayview. With 30 years of his term mandatory, Cragun will be in his 60s when he first goes before a parole board.

Cragun was given additional time for a charge of attempted first-degree murder and for two counts of aggravated battery. Simpson said that time would be served concurrently with the murder sentence.

The judge said he had to weigh both the seriousness of the crime and the fact that Cragun is a paranoid schizophrenic who suffered from delusions and hallucinations. Simpson said Cragun suffers from "one of the cruelest" mental illnesses.

"His delusions were as real as anything in this courtroom," Simpson said. Still, he added later, "This is a horrendous, violent attack."

Cragun attacked Patty Heath and three of her family members with a framing hammer and kitchen knife on Dec. 19, 2010. The four Heath family members were sitting watching TV in a trailer home next door to Cragun's trailer when he burst in and started striking them with his hammer.

The three survivors of the attack were in the courtroom as Simpson handed down the sentence.

Lorraine Wallis, 59, who has had four surgeries because of two blows to the head from Cragun's hammer, said after the sentencing hearing, "The judge had a lot to deal with. I thought it was pretty fair. Nobody can bring Patty back."

Patty Heath took daily care of Wallis, who had health problems before the attack. Patty Heath's husband and Wallis' son Mike Heath, and Patty and Mike Heath's son, Jed, also attended the hearing.

Cragun declined an invitation to speak during his sentencing.

Cragun's public defender, Lynn Nelson, spoke before the sentencing, saying, "I think 'the why' of this (attack) is important."

Nelson argued the attack was the result of his client not being treated for his mental condition. Cragun currently takes antipsychotic medication.

Describing why he attacked the Heath family, Cragun has said earlier that he thought they posed a threat to one of his daughters. He has said he went to his neighbors' trailer home - owned by Wallis - to confront them before his daughter arrived for a visit.

Nelson said, "He reacted to what he legitimately believed to be true."

Kootenai County Deputy Prosecutor Art Verharen said the crime was committed with an "extreme level of violence."

He said, "He had to use that hammer 10 times."

Cragun struck Patty Heath five times, Wallis and Jed Heath twice each, and Mike Heath once. He slashed Jed Heath with the knife and threw it at Mike Heath.

Cragun fled and went to a Bayview bar and a local market and reported that he had just killed multiple people. He then called 911.

Verharen pointed out that Cragun was on felony probation at the time he attacked the Heath family.

He was on probation for a violent attack in which he hit, choked and tried to suffocate a pregnant woman.

Verharen said Cragun had a history of violent attacks.

He said it was ridiculous for Cragun to blame the Heaths for raping his daughter and wife, and then turn around and focus his attack primarily on Wallis and Patty Heath.

And while suffering from delusions, Verharen said, Cragun "still has free will."

In March, Cragunpleaded guilty to the crimes, following mediation between his defense lawyers and prosecutors.

Cragun previously was convicted of felony assault in Alaska in 2003, and felony domestic violence in Washington state in 2004.