Dad pleads guilty to running wife over with kid in SUV. He’ll spend 20 years in prison

A man who pleaded guilty to running over his wife in an SUV with their child inside at the Salt Lake City airport will serve 20 years in prison, a Utah judge ruled.

Shawn Christopher Sturgeon, 38, of West Jordan, pleaded guilty in July to automobile homicide while using drugs or alcohol and domestic violence in the presence of a child, McClatchy News reported.

On Friday, Sept. 9, a judge sentenced him to 15 years in prison on the first charge and up to 5 years for the second, KSTU reported.

The sentences will be served consecutively, and Sturgeon also will be ordered to make restitution, KSL reported. A restitution amount has not yet been determined.

Charlotte Sturgeon, 29, died at a hospital after being run over by an SUV driven by her husband on the second floor of a short-term parking garage at Salt Lake City International Airport at 2:39 p.m April 4, McClatchy News reported.

The two had been arguing after returning from a family trip, police said.

Court documents showed that Shawn Sturgeon put their child in the back seat of the SUV, then reversed into Charlotte Sturgeon, knocking her down. He ran her over with the SUV’s rear tire.

Security video shows Shawn Sturgeon flailing his arms and shouting at his wife to get in the SUV, which she did before collapsing.

Tests showed he had a .13% blood alcohol content, court documents said. Utah has the strictest BAC laws in the country — it is illegal to drive in the state with a blood alcohol level of .05% or higher.

This story was originally published September 12, 2022 at 8:11 AM with the headline "Dad pleads guilty to running wife over with kid in SUV. He’ll spend 20 years in prison."