Sarasota-Manatee State Attorney Offers Abusers an Opportunity to Offend Again

Key Information

• Case of Spencer Sanders: Strangled his wife Blanka before fatally stabbing her on July 12, 2018.
• Conviction: Sanders is serving a life sentence, claiming wrongful conviction.
• Strangulation Statistics: Individuals who have experienced strangulation are 750 times more likely to be killed by the same perpetrator within a year.
• Prosecution Rates: Only 16% of non-fatal strangulation cases resulted in charges filed in the Sarasota region.
• Other Notable Cases: Includes Javontee Brice, Benjamin Moulton, Darrell Mitchell, and others who had strangulation charges dropped only to commit further violent crimes.

Spencer Sanders punched his wife Blanka during an argument, demonstrating a violent streak that escalated alarmingly. Initially trying to overpower her, he left visible marks on her neck but clarified that his intention wasn’t to kill; it was to assert dominance. Tragically, this pattern culminated in her death.

On July 12, 2018, after being released shortly from jail for a related incident, Blanka was found face down on the kitchen floor, a knife beside her. According to court records, Sanders sexually assaulted her before fatally stabbing her 17 times.

Currently serving a life sentence in Hamilton Correctional Institute, Sanders maintains his innocence. Yet, there’s a disturbing pattern of violence surrounding domestic strangulation cases. According to the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention, a victim of strangulation is alarmingly 750 times more likely to be murdered by their aggressor within a year.

The State Attorney’s Office faces criticism for not prosecuting non-fatal strangulation cases aggressively. An in-depth investigation revealed that only 16% of 440 probable cause affidavits between January 2022 and April 2024 led to charges being filed.

Examples of Strangulation Cases

Javontee Brice: Charged with non-fatal strangulation in November 2023, Brice went on to commit three murders in June 2024, highlighting the risks of dropped charges.

Benjamin Moulton: Strangled a pregnant woman in 2011, later killing another woman. Despite the severity of his actions, charges were declined initially.

Darrell Mitchell: A history of strangulation preceded a life sentence for murder in 2004, indicating a dangerous trajectory of escalating violence.

Multiple cases illustrate the trend in the Sarasota-Bradenton area, where perpetrators with histories of strangulation ultimately committed even more horrific acts. For instance, Stephen Astbury is serving life for strangling a homeless man, despite a history of strangulation charges being dropped.

In another shocking case, Thomas Matejcek strangled his mother over a dispute, only to later be declared incompetent and subsequently allowed to live freely. Ultimately, he again attacked her, resulting in tragic deaths.

Across the board, these cases showcase a systemic failure to address early signs of violence adequately. Tyrone Burns’s string of violence culminating in his conviction illustrates the dire need for serious prosecution of domestic violence cases.

The cumulative evidence of these cases underscores the pressing need for change. As the legal system grapples with how to address domestic violence more effectively, the heartbreaking outcomes could be significantly reduced with proper intervention and prosecution.