Years of abuse preceded the shooting death of Judy Stanfill.

Her family said her husband, Clayton Stanfill, told her what to wear, wouldn't let her have friends or drive herself to her job at the Marion County Circuit Court Annex, and isolated her from her family.

"The impact of your actions started long before you chose to murder Judy," Judy's sister Jeanette Gourley told Stanfill during his sentencing Friday. "She deserved so much better than the slime that you are."

Initially arrested on a murder charge for killing his wife of 15 years in 2017, Stanfill pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of first-degree manslaughter and was sentenced Friday, Sept. 13, to 10 years in prison.

From murder to manslaughter

Stanfill was scheduled to stand trial for the murder in October. Prosecutors and his defense attorney agreed to a plea and amended indictment charging Stanfill with manslaughter.

He admitted to recklessly causing Judy's death with "extreme indifference to the value of human life." Instead of facing a life sentence with a 25-year minimum for murder, Stanfill was instead given the Measure 11 mandatory minimum sentence for manslaughter of 10 years in prison.

Gourley said Stanfill spent years being "cruel and controlling" and "sick and sadistic" toward Judy.

Judy's daughter, Rachel Negron, said Stanfill's sentence wasn't ideal but it gave her the "peace of mind" that he would face some prison time instead of going to trial and risk him having no punishment or later appealing his conviction.

The family thanked the Marion County District Attorney's Office for their efforts.

Judy's other daughter said years ago, her mother sent her and her sister to live with relatives out of state to get away from Stanfill's abuse.

Gourley said Stanfill kept Judy from her family and made her miserable.

Previous coverage:Turner murder suspect shot self in face, claimed wife committed suicide

"We wanted what was best for her, which certainly wasn't you," Gourley said, adding that after Judy withdrew from their lives "none of us were dumb enough to believe it was a real choice."

Stanfill stumbled into the Turner Fire Department on Oct. 15, 2017, bleeding from a serious gunshot wound. He said he'd arrived home to find his wife, 52, dead from suicide.

Stating he "could not live with the fact that she was dead," he shot himself in the face, according to court documents unsealed Friday.

Stanfill, 55, was taken to Salem Hospital for treatment. Marion County Sheriff's deputies went to his home and found his wife dead from a gunshot wound.

Investigators doubted the claims of suicide. Almost seven weeks later, Stanfill was charged with the murder of Judy.

History of abuse

Gourley called Stanfill's tale of suicide "preposterous and unconscionable."

According to the previously sealed documents, Stanfill had a history of domestic violence assault and menacing charges involving his wife and daughters.

Shortly before the couple married, he was arrested for menacing and endangering the welfare of a child in 2002. According to court records, Stanfill allegedly held a gun to his wife's head in front of the children.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of menacing and was sentenced to three years probation. He was ordered to surrender a bat and a shotgun, abstain from alcohol and undergo domestic violence counseling.

A counselor in his domestic violence batterer intervention program noted that Stanfill's behavior "reflected ongoing justifying, excuse making and victim playing."

The counselor also noted that his refusal to take responsibility for his abusiveness, combined with his periodic smiling and physical demeanor, was "unsettling."

He was arrested in 2003 for violating his probation and not complying with domestic violence treatment.

In 2016, Stanfill was arrested again for physically assaulting and menacing Judy. He was taken to Marion County jail and ordered to have no contact with his wife. Five counts of contempt of court were filed against him after he called Judy on the phone five days in a row.

Previous coverage:Turner man involved in deadly shooting arrested for violating probation

Stanfill pleaded guilty to fourth-degree domestic violence assault, menacing and contempt of court. He was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to have no contact with Judy, undergo a batterer intervention program and not possess any weapons.

Six months after her husband pleaded guilty, Judy signed a victim waiver allowing Stanfill to contact her. According to court records, she attended a class for domestic violence survivors and received information about protective orders, the cycle of violence and safety planning from the Center for Hope & Safety.

In her waiver, she agreed to not hold the State of Oregon, the Marion County Sheriff's Office and the district attorney liable for any injury or damage caused by Stanfill contacting her.

'Monsters like you'

Stanfill was still on probation when Judy was killed. Her death was ruled a homicide, not a suicide. Five days after the shooting, he was arrested for violating his probation by possessing a weapon.

Judy was an employee of the Marion County Circuit Court for 22 years. According to her obituary, she worked as a legal secretary for the district attorney's office and for the victim's assistance unit before being hired as a judicial support specialist at the Marion County Circuit Court Annex in Salem.

Her co-workers and family filled the courtroom during Friday's sentencing.

Judy's niece Crystal Arzola said their family will never forgive Stanfill. Instead, they will focus on remembering Judy.

"We will educate our children about monsters like you," she told Stanfill. "They will not fall into their traps."

Negron asked her father what her mother's last moments were like. Did she finally say she was leaving him? Did she ask for her family? Was killing her his final act of control?

Before Judge Jay McAlpin sentenced Stanfill, he asked if he had anything to say.

He stood briefly and paused.

"I have nothing, your honor," he said.

Support local journalism: Get the latest on crime and criminal justice news. Become a Statesman Journal subscriber and get unlimited digital access to stories that matter.

Stanfill was handcuffed and led away by deputies.

As family members filed out of the courtroom, Gourley said her sister deserved better.

Negron said her mom was a great person and her best friend. They talked on the phone every day.

As for Stanfill, she said, he took away her childhood, her future with her mom and everything in between.

"He is a manipulative, disgusting human being," Negron said.

Lawsuit:Mother of murder victim Karissa Fretwell sues accused killer for $2 million

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodwort@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-399-6884 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth