Man pleads guilty to running over, killing wife at SLC airport

SALT LAKE CITY —Shawn Christopher Sturgeon, 38, admitted he was driving drunk when he ran over his wife and killed her at the Salt Lake International Airport short-term parking lot in April.

Sturgeon pleaded guilty Monday to a second-degree felony of criminal automobile homicide while driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, and a third-degree felony of domestic violence in the presence of a child.

His wife, 29-year-old Charlotte Sturgeon died from injuries in the incident on April 4. Their small child was in the truck.

The family had just returned from a vacation.

Police spoke to several witnesses and watched airport surveillance video of the incident.

Man charged with auto homicide in connection to wife’s death at Salt Lake airport

Court documents said a witness told officers that Shawn Sturgeon was angry at his wife and yelled at her inside and outside of the terminal.

Documents said the surveillance video showed most of the incident.

Another witness told officers she was getting ready to leave the parking lot when she heard a loud noise. “She turned around and saw a lady on the ground and observed the car go over her. As the lady was on the ground, she heard her yelling and screaming,” the documents stated.

Also, documents said the video also showed Shawn Sturgeon exit the vehicle while yelling and flailing his arms and told Charlotte Sturgeon to get in the vehicle which she did shortly before succumbing to her wounds.

Responding officers said Shawn Sturgeon appeared to be under the influence with the odor of alcohol coming from his mouth and he had glassy bloodshot eyes, according to the document.

Shawn Sturgeon reportedly had a .13 blood alcohol level following a preliminary toxicology screen.

The court document said he had a previous conviction for DUI in another state.

Sturgeon is scheduled to be sentenced inn September.