A man initially charged with attempted murder against his own estranged wife is sentenced Tuesday. It was a scary scene the victims don't want to relive.
David McKee pleaded guilty to felony burglary to have the attempted murder charge dropped, and in exchange he had to admit to what he did.
The 40-year-old McKee is given a mandatory sentence of 25 years in prison on Tuesday in Pottawattamie County Court. With Iowa's "Earned Time" and credit for time served, he will spend about another 4 years behind bars.
On May 3, 2015, McKee broke into the home where Bobbi Franke and Linda “Ma” Minard lived. McKee is Franke's estranged husband. He told both of them he'd kill them and grabbed Franke by the throat. Franke had a knife and was able to stab him in the shoulder and throat. Minard called 911, and hit him with a weight. McKee went to the hospital and was arrested.
Franke says she was abused for 20 years of their relationship.
"Nobody should ever have to go through that, nobody,” Franke described. “I feel like he's gotten an easy sentence and that's how he's been all of his life."
McKee has served a prison sentence in Iowa before, and jail time in other states. He addressed his victims in court.
"I know what I did was wrong that day,” McKee explained. “I pray that you will do good the rest of your life and be happy."
Pottawattamie County Judge Kathleen Kilnoski told McKee what he did was not love, it was criminal.
Franke and Minard want others to see how domestic violence can escalate, and hope victims will get help.
"It's an obsession she was his possession and so many women out there are the same, and I'm not saying abuse doesn't happen to men it does, but they need to stand up so they don't become a statistic," Minard concluded.
Franke and Minard say they will be at any of McKee’s parole hearings to hopefully tell the board the type of man he’s been over the last 20 years.
If you or someone you know is in a domestic violence situation you can call the Women’s Center for Advancement Crisis Hotline at 402-345-7273, or the Espanol hotline at 402-672-7118.
