A case in another state made national headlines due to an estranged spouse’s bizarre and dangerous behavior. The extreme domestic violence caused a man to be sentenced to 70 years in prison.
The 62-year-old man, who is a well-known former advertising executive, was in the middle of divorce proceedings with his estranged wife in July 2009. On a morning when they were due in court, he reportedly kidnapped her from her office’s parking garage, held her hostage at gunpoint and then burned down their house, which was supposed to be turned over to her.
The man had faced 10 charges, including assault, kidnapping, arson and threatening. His ex-wife claims he fired a gun near her head, threatened to kill her and threatened to blow up the home. She managed to escape unharmed after he had handcuffed her to a bolt in the house’s basement.
If the man feels any remorse, he is not showing it. In court he even told the judge that he had hired an assassin to kill his former wife. According to CBS News, he told the judge, “Ending [her] life when I am in prison makes my sentence worthwhile.”
The woman had hoped for the toughest possible sentence, which would have been 80 years in prison, claiming he would never stop harassing or trying to destroy her. The man’s attorney had tried an insanity defense, to no avail.
The man is awaiting trial on separate charges relating to burning down the couple’s home.
Source: CBS News, “Conn. man gets 70 years for kidnapping ex-wife,” Jan. 4, 2012