Family of Utah man killed by ex-girlfriend said he’d been ‘a victim for years’ of domestic violence

Farmington • A 46-year-old Bountiful woman was sentenced to prison Monday for fatally stabbing a former boyfriend at his apartment after a day-long drinking binge in February 2012.

Shannon Sander pleaded guilty in April to second-degree felony manslaughter in the death of 52-year-old Michael Dunn.

The woman — who has claimed she was defending herself from unwanted sexual advances — was originally charged with first-degree felony murder, but the charge was reduced as part of a plea deal.

Second District Judge David Connors sentenced Sander to a one-to-15-year prison sentence, saying he didn't see sufficient reasoning to deviate from the recommendation from Adult Probation and Parole. Sander's attorney, Mark Arrington, had asked for a jail sentence.

Dunn died on a bed in the living room of his Bountiful apartment on Feb. 21, 2012, after Sander stabbed him once in the chest.

"Because of the stab going between the ribs, it wouldn't have taken a lot of force," Arrington said at Sander's Monday sentencing. "It was a lucky shot."

Arrington said the two had been drinking heavily that day — Sander had a blood alcohol level of .27, while Dunn had a BAC of .23.

They had been drinking since about 9:30 a.m., according to preliminary hearing testimony, and Sander reported to police that she consumed three cans of beer and about 5 to 6 inches of a bottle of whiskey throughout that day.

"No doubt in my mind that if Michael or Shannon had not been drinking, none of us would be here," Arrington said. "… They had an abusive relationship and it was most abusive when there was alcohol involved."

But Dunn's family told the judge Monday that he was battered and abused by Sander throughout their decade-long on-and-off relationship.

Sister-in-law Earlene Dunn said she took Michael Dunn to receive medical treatment on numerous occasions for dislocated shoulders, knife punctures and other wounds — all sustained at the hands of Sander.

"I live with a cloud of guilt laying over my head of this abuse and injuries he suffered and kept silent," Earlene Dunn said. "…[He would say] that it's embarrassing. It doesn't matter. I didn't think Shannon meant to do it."

Earlene Dunn lamented at the sentencing that there is a social stigma that battered men are emasculated or embarrassed by domestic violence. She said if it was her brother-in-law standing as defendant, he would have had a much harsher sentence.

"Michael was a victim for years," Earlene Dunn said. "But his good heart wanted to give the best to everyone."

When given a chance to speak, Sander apologized to the Dunn family, and told the judge that she wants to live a sober life and make positive choices.

"I am in my own prison daily," she said. "I live with the pain of losing my best friend and my extended family.

jmiller@sltrib.com