Charleston Man Receives Maximum Prison Sentence Following Fatal Vase Attack And Domestic Assault

Izak Surface receives maximum prison time for the murder of Lora Farley and the attempted murder of his grandmother in West Virginia.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 12, 2026, 4:30 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from CBS Austin

Judicial Finality In A Violent Multigenerational Case

Izak Surface, a 23 year old resident of Charleston, West Virginia, has been sentenced to the maximum allowable time in prison following a series of violent acts that culminated in a fatal beating. Judge Carrie Webster presided over the emotional sentencing hearing, where Surface faced accountability for the January 2024 death of 36 year old Lora Farley. The court ordered that Surface serve 40 years for second degree murder, to be followed consecutively by a three to 15 year term for the attempted murder of his grandmother, ensuring he remains incarcerated for several decades.

The Fatal Discovery On Chandler Drive

The murder investigation began on January 18, 2024, when authorities discovered Farley’s body inside a residence in the 1600 block of Chandler Drive. Investigative reports indicated that the victim had been deceased for approximately two days before she was found wrapped in a blanket on a bed. Forensic examinations determined that Farley had been struck in the head at least three times with a blunt force object, specifically a vase. While Surface attempted to claim that the victim was the aggressor during a drug fueled altercation, prosecutors successfully argued that the physical evidence and the defendant’s history painted a different picture of the event.

A Pattern Of Domestic Escalation And Systemic Failure

In the days preceding the murder, Surface targeted his 74 year old grandmother, Betty, pushing her down a flight of stairs after she refused to provide him with money. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jordan Gunnoe revealed that this incident was part of a broader cycle of domestic abuse where Surface’s mother frequently intervened to have charges dropped or discouraged police involvement. The attempted murder case was initially dismissed when the grandmother failed to appear at a hearing, but officials later learned she was still hospitalized and unable to communicate her desire to prosecute, leading to the eventual refiling of charges.