Gloucester County Man Sentenced in Wife's Murder

A Gloucester County man has been sentenced to 61 years in state prison for fatally shooting his ex-wife at her home in Glassboro in 2012, the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office announced.

Charles F. Sawyer, 62, of Glassboro, was previously found guilty of murdering 53-year-old Rita Sawyer by holding a handgun against her head and firing.

He was found guilty of of first-degree murder, felony murder, kidnapping, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, burglary, theft, aggravated assault and threat to kill following an eight-day jury trial earlier this year.

All but one count of the conviction was merged into the first-degree murder count for sentencing. Sawyer will serve 56 years for murder and concurrent terms for the other offenses.

On the theft charge, a five-year prison term was imposed, to be served consecutive to the 56 years, since the crime was committed against another victim, an acquaintance of Sawyer’s from whom he stole a handgun.

He must serve 85 percent of his sentence, or 46 ½ years, before he is eligible for parole.

Superior Court Judge Kevin T. Smith cited Sawyer’s “somewhat maniacal personality, driven by uncontrollable jealousy” when he imposed the sentence last week. He also said that “from a domestic violence perspective, clearly a message must be sent.”

The judge also took into account the nature and circumstances of the crime, which he found to be excessively cruel, concluding from trial testimony that Rita Sawyer was bound with duct tape before she was shot.

Rita Sawyer had made a complaint to police just five days before the shooting that Charles Sawyer had been stalking her and harassing her. The two divorced in 2004.

She didn’t seek a restraining order at the time, but Glassboro police were alerted to keep an eye out for him near her home.

The couple had two children, who were not present at the time of the shooting.