Arizona Man Sentenced to Natural Life in Prison for 2017 Death of His Wife, Who Was Buried Alive

Arizona Man Sentenced to Natural Life in Prison for 2017 Death of His Wife, Who Was Buried Alive
David Pagniano in an undated photo. Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office
The Associated Press
Updated:
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PRESCOTT, Ariz.—An Arizona man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2017 death of his wife, who was buried alive in a hand-dug grave near their home, authorities said.

Seven years after the murder, David Pagniano decided to plead guilty before his trial was scheduled to start and allowed a judge to determine his sentence without a plea agreement.