A Minnesota resident, Alexis Saborit, 44, was pronounced guilty of first-degree murder on Thursday following a gruesome attack that took the life of his girlfriend, America Thayer, 56, in July 2021.
The presiding judge ruled that the severity of the assault indicated clear intent on Saborit’s part to murder Thayer. The possession of a machete, prior threats, and a volatile history characterized by frequent disputes and allegations of abuse served as strong evidence of premeditation, as detailed by local media.
As reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the horrifying attack unfolded when Saborit assaulted Thayer with an 8-pound dumbbell inside a vehicle near downtown Shakopee, leading to her decapitation with a machete.
The brutality of the incident unfolded in public view, witnessed by individuals in nearby vehicles and residences. One bystander managed to capture a video depicting Saborit dragging Thayer’s body from the car onto the street and then lifting her head by the hair.
The couple was en route to a court hearing concerning Saborit’s felony charges, which alleged that he had ignited their Shakopee apartment during a dispute with police. Furthermore, he was accused of assaulting Thayer following her declaration of wanting to end their relationship.
Following the gruesome murder, Saborit fled, discarding the machete en route. He was later apprehended approximately one and a half miles from the crime scene near the TraveLodge Hotel where he had been residing.
In response to the verdict, County Attorney Ron Hocevar expressed satisfaction, anticipating that Saborit would receive a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Charles Thayer, the 42-year-old son of the victim, reacted to the verdict, stating that his mother had not deserved such a tragic fate, and he strongly agreed that the perpetrator deserved lifelong imprisonment.