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A Prescott, Arizona, man was sentenced to life in jail with out the potential of parole after pleading responsible to murdering his spouse by burying her alive in 2017.
Yavapai County Legal professional Dennis McGrane mentioned 62-year-old David Michael Pagniano was sentenced to spend the remainder of his life in jail for the homicide of his spouse, then 39-year-old Sandra Pagniano, who was buried alive in a hand-dug grave close to their house.
“My workplace pursued the loss of life penalty on this case due to the horrific circumstances surrounding the kidnapping and homicide of a younger mom,” McGrane mentioned.
Sandra Pagniano disappeared whereas within the strategy of divorcing her husband in Could 2017, authorities mentioned.
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David Pagniano of Prescott, Arizona, pleaded responsible to burying his spouse alive and murdering her.
Whereas the 2 had been separated, they lived in the identical house with their two younger daughters.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Workplace started investigating the circumstances of Sandra Pagniano’s suspicious disappearance, main to an enormous manhunt.
Sandra Pagniano’s physique was discovered sure and gagged in packing tape in a hand-dug grave in a distant space close to Prescott.
In accordance with the medical expert, she had been buried alive.
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A Yavapai County Sheriff’s Workplace car (KSAZ)
“The proof revealed she vigorously struggled whereas she was within the grave and was doubtless acutely aware for as much as 5 minutes after being buried,” McGrane mentioned.
Detectives conducting the investigation found two notes filed within the divorce continuing after Sandra Pagniano disappeared, which she had purportedly written.
The letters said Sandra Pagniano was leaving and handing David Pagniano the autos, home and custody of their youngsters.
Forensic specialists examined the letters, they usually had been in the end discovered to have been written by Sandra Pagniano.
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Extra proof offered included cellphone information that confirmed David Pagniano was within the neighborhood of the grave website the place his spouse was discovered simply days earlier than her loss of life, in addition to on the night time she went lacking.
McGrane mentioned Pagniano pleaded responsible to homicide on the night time earlier than his trial was anticipated to start, placing the sentencing choice within the palms of the choose.
David Pagniano was sentenced to life in jail for homicide in addition to an extra 16 ½ years for kidnapping, forgery and fraud.
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“I hope the life sentence brings some closure to the sufferer’s household,” McGrane mentioned. “I wish to be clear that my workplace will vigorously prosecute anybody who commits a violent crime in Yavapai County, and we are going to proceed to pursue the loss of life penalty in applicable instances.”
