Today (Feb 6) JOHN EVERETTE MURRAY (30) entered a plea of Guilty to Second Degree Murder and was sentenced to 35 years in the Florida Department of Corrections and 5 years of probation, for the murder of Amber Christensen (33) on February 17, 2018.

MURRAY shot Christensen during an argument at the couple's home on Monarch Circle in Casselberry. MURRAY was arrested at the scene by Casselberry Police who responded to a 911 call from Christensen prior to her death.

Murray's attorneys offered the plea to avoid the mandatory life sentence of first degree murder. Prosecutors conferred with Christensen's family members and our law enforcement partners to obtain their input prior to accepting the plea. In addition to imposing the 35 year sentence, the agreement also avoided the necessity of having Christensen's surviving 9 year old son testify at trial.

While no amount of incarceration can adequately account for the thoughtless and brutal actions of the defendant, knowing that John MURRAY will spend each day of the next 35 years in prison, will provide closure for the family and deliver justice on behalf of Amber Christensen.