Arizona man in the United States of America, David Michael Pagniano, 62, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of his wife, Sandra Pagniano, 39.
The sentencing, delivered by Yavapai County Superior Court Judge David Mackey on May 9, 2024, marked the culmination of a tragic case that began in 2017.
Sandra, who was in the process of divorcing David and shared two daughters with him, was abducted from her home, bound, gagged, and driven to a remote location where she was buried alive in a hand-dug grave.
Despite her struggles, she remained conscious for several minutes after being buried.
The discovery of Sandra’s body in a remote area, approximately 10 miles northwest of her home, prompted a thorough investigation.
The circumstances surrounding her disappearance, including suspicious notes allegedly written by Sandra but later determined to be authored by David, added complexity to the case.
In addition to the life sentence for murder, David received a 16.5-year sentence for charges including kidnapping, fraud schemes, and forgery.
Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane emphasized that the life sentence was pursued due to the heinous nature of the crime and expressed hope that it would bring some measure of closure to Sandra’s family.
