Today in History: SBU Student Committed 2002 Murder

June 20 marks nine years since the murder of 21-year-old Sandra Bonaventure, who was several months pregnant when her boyfriend, a Stony Brook University student, killed her and disposed of her body in a garbage bag on a Manhattan street.

The Daily News reported Emmanuel Pierre, 26, was set to graduate from the university with honors when he killed Bonaventure on June 20, 2002 because she wouldn't have an abortion. Her body was found on June 25 that year, but charges weren't filed against Pierre until two years later, and he was later convicted.

The New York Times reported Pierre denied being the father of Bonaventure's child, but that DNA tests showed he was indeed the father.

On May 13, 2005, The Daily News reported Pierre was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. According to the report, sentencing judge Manhattan Supreme Court Justice James Yates, called Bonaventure's murder "one of the most unforgivable crimes" he had seen in his 13 years on the bench.

The New York Times also reported that Pierre tried to pin the crime on one of his fraternity brothers, Josh Cayenne, who was later charged with hindering the prosecution and other charges.