Whitehouse man who stabbed, slit throat of former fiance gets 55 - KYTX CBS 19 Tyler Longview News Weather Sports

WHITEHOUSE (TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH) - A Whitehouse man who stabbed his former fiancé multiple times and slit her throat before his own mother could intervene has been sentenced to 55 years in prison.

Smith County Assistant District Attorney Jason Parrish said that Shaun Mark Lawler, 33, pleaded guilty in July but was not sentenced until earlier this week.

Parrish said the attack by Lawler on 24-year-old Jessica Wimpee left the woman permanently scarred. He stressed she is lucky to be alive.

Lawler turned himself in on July 19, 2011 less than 24 hours after the brutal attack on Ms. Wimpee at his parents' business on Texas Highway 110 in Whitehouse. Parrish said that Ms. Wimpee stopped by the business to give Lawler's mother the engagement ring back and told her she was leaving her son.

While Ms. Wimpee was still at the business, Waller arrived and blocked his former fiancé's vehicle in.

Parrish said as the woman attempted to leave, Lawler stabbed her 10-12 times and then slit her throat from ear to ear.

"If Lawler's mother hadn't stepped in, I believe he would have finished what he started," he said.

Lawler's criminal history includes a 2002 charge for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He received seven years probation in deferred adjudication, according to judicial records.