Posted 12:04 am Friday, August 03, 2012
Send to Kindle
Update: Man Who Stabbed ex-Fiance Receives 55-Year Sentence
By Kenneth Dean
kdean@tylerpaper.com
A Whitehouse man who stabbed his former fiancé multiple times and slit her throat before his own mother could intervene was sentenced to 55 years in prison.
kdean@tylerpaper.com
A Whitehouse man who stabbed his former fiancé multiple times and slit her throat before his own mother could intervene was sentenced to 55 years in prison.
Smith County Assistant District Attorney Jason Parrish said Shaun Mark Lawler, 33, pleaded guilty in July but was not sentenced until earlier this week by State District Judge Jack Skeen Jr.
Parrish said the attack by Lawler on 24-year-old Jessica Wimpee left the woman permanently scarred, and he stressed she was lucky to be alive.
Lawler turned himself in on July 19, 2011 less than 24 hours after the brutal attack on Ms. Wimpee at his parent's business on Texas Highway 110 in Whitehouse.
Parrish said Ms. Wimpee stopped by the business to give Lawler's mother the engagement ring back and told her she was leaving her son.
While Ms. Wimpee was still at the business, Waller arrived and blocked in his former fiancés' vehicle.
Parrish said as the woman attempted to leave, Lawler pulled out a pocket knife, ran after her and stabbed her 10 to 12 times before slitting her throat from ear to ear.
Lawler's mother attempted to stop her son, but he threw her off as he continued his attack on Ms. Wimpee, which only lasted seconds.
Parrish said after Lawler learned Ms. Wimpee was leaving him, he made the decision if he couldn't have her then no one else could.
Parrish said Ms. Wimpee was able to get up and run into the office of the business and lock the doors as Lawler's mother grabbed his shirt and held him.
“If Lawler's mother hadn't stepped in I believe he would have finished what he started,” he said.
Lawler's criminal history includes a 2002 charge for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He received seven years probation in deferred adjudication, according to judicial records.
Lawler turned himself in on July 19, 2011 less than 24 hours after the brutal attack on Ms. Wimpee at his parent's business on Texas Highway 110 in Whitehouse.
Parrish said Ms. Wimpee stopped by the business to give Lawler's mother the engagement ring back and told her she was leaving her son.
While Ms. Wimpee was still at the business, Waller arrived and blocked in his former fiancés' vehicle.
Parrish said as the woman attempted to leave, Lawler pulled out a pocket knife, ran after her and stabbed her 10 to 12 times before slitting her throat from ear to ear.
Lawler's mother attempted to stop her son, but he threw her off as he continued his attack on Ms. Wimpee, which only lasted seconds.
Parrish said after Lawler learned Ms. Wimpee was leaving him, he made the decision if he couldn't have her then no one else could.
Parrish said Ms. Wimpee was able to get up and run into the office of the business and lock the doors as Lawler's mother grabbed his shirt and held him.
“If Lawler's mother hadn't stepped in I believe he would have finished what he started,” he said.
Lawler's criminal history includes a 2002 charge for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He received seven years probation in deferred adjudication, according to judicial records.
