Christopher B. Buechting, 46, has been sentenced to 28 years in prison after being convicted of murdering his live-in girlfriend, Angela McDonald, in 2017 at their Festus-area home.
After a three-day trial in September, a jury found Buechting guilty of second-degree murder, a class A felony, and Jefferson County Circuit Court Div. 5 Judge Victor Melenbrink issued the 28-year sentence on Dec. 2.
“We asked for the maximum – 30 years to life – and the judge gave him 28, so we are satisfied with the outcome,” Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Trish Stefanski said. “He will be held accountable.”
Buechting was accused of beating McDonald on Jan. 22, 2017, seriously injuring her. The next day she was taken by helicopter to Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Coeur, and she died there Jan. 25, 2017, at the age of 39.
According to the probable-cause statement in the case and other court papers, deputies responded to a 911 call on Jan. 22, 2017, at a home in the 1400 block of Wilderness Acres, where Buechting and McDonald lived. By the time authorities arrived, Buechting was gone and McDonald was not forthcoming with information.
A deputy noticed McDonald had bruises on her chin and under her left eye. She also repeatedly said her side hurt and she thought she had broken ribs.
The deputy said the injuries on her face looked like “old” bruises, and she told the deputy Buechting had abused her in the past, but she did not say she had been abused that day, the report said.
The next day, Jan. 23, 2017, the Sheriff’s Office returned to the home after Buechting called 911 and said McDonald was “unresponsive.” During the 911 call, Buechting said McDonald “intentionally banged her head on the porch the previous night because she was drunk and mad,” according to the report.
Buechting further stated that while the two were arguing, he forced her out of the house and after that, he heard banging on the door, which he assumed was McDonald banging her head on the door.
Deputies found “a large amount of blood on the front porch near the front door and blood splattered onto the lower portion of the door frame,” the report said.
Assistant prosecuting attorney Travis Partney handled the case and during closing arguments, said medical experts determined that McDonald’s death was a homicide based on the nature of her injuries.
Buechting’s attorney, Nicholas Williams, said his client will appeal the verdict.