‘Sleepwalker’ Found Guilty of Murder
A man who claimed he was sleepwalking when he stabbed his wife 44 times and held her head under water was convicted Friday of first-degree murder.
Scott Falater, 43, stared straight ahead and did not react as the verdict was read in a Maricopa County Superior Court.
He then hugged his stepfather and kissed his mother on the cheek.
“It’s not over yet,” Falater said just before he left the courtroom.
Jurors, who began deliberating Wednesday, also had the option of convicting Falater of second-degree murder. Prosecutors have said they would seek the death penalty.
Two sleep experts cited Falater’s family history of sleepwalking, job stress and lack of sleep as reasons for his violent sleepwalking episode.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
