111 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
White Plains, NY 10601
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July 9, 2013 -- Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Michael Saunders (DOB 07/10/62) of 361 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, New York, was sentenced today to an indeterminate term of twenty seven and one third to thirty two years to life in state prison on his March 2013 conviction on all counts of the indictment that charged him with:

• one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a class “A” Felony,
• one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,
• one count of Assault, in the Second Degree, a class “D” Felony,
• one count of Reckless Endangerment, in the First Degree, a class ”D” Felony,

relating to the death of Sabrina Durrah by shooting her in the head and chest and the abandonment of his 4 month old daughter.

The defendant received the maximum, twenty five years to life, on the Murder count and the maximum, two and one third to seven years on the Reckless Endangerment.

The sentences will be served consecutively.

On March 21, 2012 the defendant entered the apartment of Sabrina Durrah at 312 Main Street, in White Plains, after learning that the victim had intended on filing papers in court for child support, regarding the 4 ½ month old baby girl that they had in common.
 
The exchange ended with the victim shot twice, once in the back of the head as she held her baby.

The defendant also left the victim’s four month old infant alone and unsupervised in the apartment, lying next to her murdered mother.

The infant was discovered by relatives on March 24th, 2012.

White Plains Police were contacted, responded to the building and initiated an investigation.

A neighbor reported hearing two gunshots and a baby crying between approximately 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21, 2012.  

Further investigation revealed surveillance cameras in various locations in and around the victims apartment building showing the defendant outside the victim’s building, wearing a long sleeved hooded sweatshirt and gloves - despite the warm weather - as well as a hockey style mask on top of his head.

When the defendant left the building the hockey mask now covered his face.

The defendant was arrested by White Plains police at his place of employment on March 26th, 2012.

Second Deputy District Attorney Patricia Murphy, Chief of the Superior Court Trial Division and Assistant District Attorney Wendy Parra, of the Superior Court Trial Division, are prosecuted the case.

In compliance with Disciplinary Rule 7-107A of the Code of Professional Responsibility, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.