Ala. man sentenced to almost 200 years and avoids death penalty for fatally shooting pregnant wife
06/23/2023 4:11 pm PDT
PRATTVILLE, Ala. (TCD) -- A 26-year-old man will no longer face the possibility of the death penalty after he pleaded guilty to killing his wife and unborn son as his murder trial wrapped up.
The District Attorney Office for the 19th Circuit, CJ Robinson, announced Hunter Tatum entered the plea for two counts of murder, and a judge subsequently sentenced him to two terms of 99 years in prison to be served consecutively.
According to the Montgomery Advertiser, Tatum was nearing the end of his three-day trial for capital murder in connection with the deaths of his wife, Summer, and their son, Everett. Hunter shot Summer Oct. 18, 2021, at their home on Sunset Terrace in Plattville. He also faced charges of murder and murder of another person while having the intent of killing someone else.
Prosecutors reportedly argued Hunter killed Summer because he was angry she developed an online relationship with a woman in England. His defense team alleged Summer threatened him with a gun and told him, "You don't deserve to live."
The Montgomery Advertiser reports security camera footage, however, captured Summer pleading, "Please! Please! Please! I'll stay! I'll do anything! Don't kill me!"
Hunter reportedly said "Nope" several times before shooting his wife in the head with a revolver.
According to the Montgomery Advertiser, doctors delivered baby Everett via emergency C-section and he survived for about two hours before dying.
Prosecutors sought the death penalty, but Summer's family approved of the plea deal. In his statement, Robinson said the case "took a toll on all of us."
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