The sentencing hearing of Yvonne Cortis will take place on Wednesday in Oakland County, Michigan Circuit Court, just over a month after Cortis pleaded guilty to fatally beating her husband and dog with a metal rod. Watch the hearing live on the Law&Crime Network in the player above at 1:30 pm ET/10:30 am PT.
Cortis was arrested after she called 911 on November 30, 2015, reporting that her husband, Gregory Cortis, 68, and their 11-year-old yellow lab were “no longer suffering.” When officers responded to the home, they found Mr. Cortis on his back, with injuries to his head and ear. The dog was injured and unconscious. Both later died from their injuries.
The case was set to go to trial on December 7 of last year, but Cortis agreed to a plea deal, accepting convictions for second-degree murder and killing/torturing an animal on December 1. Judge Cheryl Matthews will determine Yvonne Cortis’ sentence at the conclusion of the hearing. The murder charge carries a possible life sentence, and the animal torture charge could bring an additional four years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
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