Mpls. Man Sentenced To Nearly 8 Years For Fatal Stabbing Of Wife

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to nearly 8 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of his wife last October, according to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office.

Fifty-two-year-old Wayne Ray Watson was specifically sentenced to 93 months in prison. He pleaded guilty last month to second-degree manslaughter for the death of his wife, 53-year-old Flowera Ransom.

Authorities say Watson called 911 on Oct. 1, 2015 to report that he stabbed his wife in their northeast Minneapolis home. When police arrived, she was found on the floor of their apartment with a stab wound to the left side of her neck. The medical examiner later determined her jugular was cut by a knife.

According to the criminal complaint, Watson initially told officers that he stabbed his wife because she came at him with a knife. He later said in a second interview that they struggled over the knife and that she may have ended up stabbing herself on purpose.

Before Watson was sentenced, a victim impact statement was read from Ransom's brother, who said his sister wanted to end her relationship with Watson and move back to Oklahoma.

Watson apologized for his actions before the sentence was handed down.