David Pagniano murdered his wife Sandra Pagniano in May 2017.
June 9, 2024, published at 6:00 am ET
Horrible husband David Pagniano was ordered to spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole – seven years after killing his ex-wife, Sandraby burying the bound and gagged woman alive in a shallow grave 10 miles from their home in Arizona, RadarOnline.com has learned.
David, 62, recently pleaded guilty to the disturbing crime shortly before his trial was due to begin, leaving himself at the judge's mercy without a deal being reached.
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David was sentenced to life behind bars without the possibility of parole.
The 62-year-old was given the severe sentence on May 9 – plus a prison sentence of sixteen and a half years for kidnapping, forgery and fraud. But the cruel coward avoided a possible death penalty, as Yavapai County officials had done. intended to seek the ultimate punishment, according to the Globe.
County Attorney Dennis McGrane said his office wanted the sadistic killer to pay with his life due to the “horrific circumstances” surrounding the abduction and torturous murder of the 39-year-old mother of two.
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Sandra's body was discovered in a shallow grave 10 miles from the couple's home.
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“Sandra was kidnapped from her home while her children slept nearby, tied up in packing tape, driven to a remote location and buried alive,” McGrane said, according to ABC News.
“The evidence showed that she struggled violently while in the grave, and was probably conscious for up to five minutes after being buried.”
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39-year-old Sandra wanted a divorce when she disappeared in May 2017 and a friend reported her missing. At the time, she was still living with David and their two young daughters – then aged eight and 12 – at the couple's home near Prescott.
The couple's controversial split led to a criminal investigation.
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David was convicted of forging two notes allegedly written by Sandra that gave him their house, cards and custody of their children.
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Sandra's body was later found in a hand-dug hole. A medical examiner confirmed that the victim, who had been secured with packing tape, had been callously buried alive.
Investigators claim cell phone evidence showed David was at the grave days before his wife disappeared – and the night she was dragged to her doom as their children slept.
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Two notes attributed to Sandra were submitted to the court by her husband after her disappearance, stating that she had given him their house, cars and custody of their children. Forensic examination of the notes revealed that the letters were actually written by the killer himself.
A grand jury indicted David on charges of first-degree murder.
