An Arizona man was sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole, seven years after he buried his wife near their home - while she was still awake and alive.
David Pagniano, 62, pleaded guilty to killing Sandra Pagniano, who was in the process of filing for divorce when she disappeared. The Pagnianos had separated but still lived in the same house with their two children.
"My Office pursued the death penalty in this case because of the horrific circumstances surrounding the abduction and murder of a young mother," Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane said in a statement.
"Sandra was kidnapped from her home while her children slept nearby, bound in packing tape, driven to a remote location and buried alive. The evidence revealed she vigorously struggled while she was in the grave, and was likely conscious for up to five minutes after being buried."
After Sandra's disappearance, there was a massive manhunt for the missing 39-year-old mother. Her body was discovered "bound and gagged in packing tape in a hand-dug grave in a remote area north of Prescott, Arizona," according to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.
During the investigation, detectives uncovered two notes, purportedly written by Sandra, that claimed she was leaving and giving her husband control of their property and custody of their children. Forensic analysis revealed that the notes were written by David, not Sandra.
David pleaded guilty to killing Sandra on the eve of his trial - avoiding threats of the death penalty with a plea deal. He also pleaded guilty to kidnapping, forgery and fraud schemes.
