Georgia woman sentenced to life in prison after fatally stabbing husband at least 22 times

FAYETTE COUNTY, Ga. (TCD) -- A 35-year-old woman was sentenced to life in prison after fatally stabbing her husband at least 22 times.

According to a press release from the Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, on Dec. 23, 2019, Alexandria Ginavia Mardell attacked her husband, John Mardell, by stabbing him and hitting him in the head with a glass jar. After the assault, the District Attorney’s Office says Alexandria packed a bag and fled the scene in her husband’s car.

In court, the District Attorney’s Office says Mardell claimed the act was self-defense. However, on March 18, a Fayette County Jury convicted her of malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault. According to the District Attorney’s Office, she was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In response to the verdict, District Attorney Broder said in a statement, "John Mardell’s death was avoidable, senseless, and horribly violent. My deepest thanks goes to the investigators with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and to my team for working so hard to bring justice to John."

Broder added, "ADA (Assistant District Attorney) Hiatt said to the Judge during sentencing that this case 'needs to send a message to this county that violence like this will not be tolerated.' The jury sent that message with its verdict and the Judge sent that message with her sentence."

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