Yonkers Man Sentenced for 2012 Murder of White Plains Woman

A 51-year-old Yonkers man was given a sentence of up to life in prison Tuesday morning for murdering the mother of his daughter in White Plains in 2012, according to the Westchester County District Attorney's Office.

Michael Saunders was sentenced to an indeterminate term of 27-and-one-third to life in prison for the March 21, 2012 murder of Sabrina Durrah after he was convicted earlier this year for one count of second-degree murder, a Class A felony;  one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class C felony;  one count of second-degree assault, a class D felony; and one count of first-degree reckless endangerment, a class D felony.

Authorities said Saunders, who worked as a bus driver, committed the murder after he learned Durrah that the victim had intended to file for child  support for their four-month-old daughter. 

Saunders entered the Durrah's apartment on 312 Main Street and shot her twice, once in the back of the head, while she was holding their child. Saunders then exited the home, leaving the child unsupervised for three days. 

Relatives discovered the girl on March 24 and notified police.

During the police investigation, a neighbor reported hearing two gunshots and a baby crying sometime between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.  Surveillance cameras also showed Saunders outside the Durrah’s building, wearing a long sleeved hooded sweatshirt and gloves - despite the warm weather - as well as a hockey mask on top of his head. 

Saunders had the hockey mask covering his face when he left the building, according to authorities.

White Plains police arrested Saunders on March 26 at his job.

Saunders received the maximum sentence of 25 years to life on the murder count and the maximum of two-and-one-third to seven years on the reckless endangerment charge. The sentences will be served consecutively.