Michigan – A Michigan man was ordered to spend the next twenty five to fifty years behind bars after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the sIaying of his spouse, 38-year-old AIicia. Under the terms of a plea deal following an earlier mistriaI, he also received an additional two-year sentence on a feIony firearms charge, which must be served before the murder sentence begins.
The case’s grim facts trace back to Aug. 2023. According to Michigan authorities, the victim had served the defendant, 44-year-old M. Lafton, with separation papers the previous day. The coupIe had been married onIy six months, and the dissolution of their marriage came after a domestic violence incident several months earlier, for which the defendant had been arrested and subsequently ordered not to have any contact with the victim.
On the morning of August 17, the defendant returned to their home under the pretext of retrieving his belongings. Neighbors later reported hearing an argument, and 911 was called. Investigators say that during this confrontation, the defendant seized a firearm from a drawer. The weapon discharged as he brandished it, prompting the victim to flee into a bathroom and lock the door.
According to the reports, the defendant then kicked open the bathroom door. As the victim attempted to escape through a nearby window, he opened fire, shooting her 15 times. Her body was later discovered on the lawn outside the home, where Michigan authorities found her with multiple fatal gunshot wounds to the head and body.
Officers arrested the defendant a few blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting. The case went to trial, but the jury failed to reach a verdict. Rather than go through a second trial, the defendant accepted the prosecution’s plea agreement and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and the separate firearms charge.
In court, the defnedant remained silent during sentencing as the victim’s family and others spoke. Her father addressed him directly, saying he wanted the world to know what the defendant had done: “I just want the world to know that this guy is a piece of garbage. I wish I could handle this and serve justice on his ass right now,” he said, barely containing his emotions.
The case has left a profound mark on the Michigan community. The victim leaves behind three adult children and a grieving family. Her death has served as a stark reminder of the danger inherent when victims of domestic violence attempt to leave their abusers—a moment when experts say they are at greatest risk
