Jay Arnold was sentenced to 60 years after being found guilty of Aggravated Assault and Kidnapping charges from an incident that occurred November 2012 at his West residence.
The jury deliberated less than 30 minutes before returning with a verdict of guilty, but spent the afternoon deliberating his fate.
The courtroom was tense, as jurors heard testimony from the victim Katie Arnold and the victim’s family. Her mother and father took the stand recalling how her life has changed since the incident saying their daughter lives in fear.
When Arnold’s estranged wife Katie took the stand, he became visibly upset. As Katie recalled the couple’s tumultuous history, he called her a liar.
Katie asked the jury for a more severe punishment saying she constantly looks over her shoulder in fear of the defendant. She also said the emotional impact on the couple’s three children is significant “[Our son] had to be a man, has to be the man of the house at 10 years old.” Arnold said.
The defense argued for leniency, citing the defendant’s chronic health issues. His family believes that the court and the jurors did not get an accurate picture of Jay Arnold.
According to testimony, Arnold strangled his wife with a wire, after taking her into the garage.
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