In July, a jury determined Jonnyrae Witt intentionally shot Leslie Cramblit. They found him guilty of second-degree murder and corporal injury of a spouse, among other allegations.
On Tuesday, Witt, who was the subject of a manhunt throughout the community of Rio Linda during the fall of 2015, was sentenced to serve life in prison with the possibility for parole after 40 years.
Cramblit and Witt were staying in a home in Rackerby, Yuba County, where Cramblit was found dead. In addition to the impact of the shot from a Winchester 30-30 rifle, her body showed signs of multiple blunt force trauma injuries, including strangulation marks and extensive bruising on her head, neck, torso and other extremities.
Witt fled from the scene and was found days later living with his new girlfriend, with whom he became engaged shortly after his arrest, according to a probation report.
Violence against Cramblit at the hands of Witt had been witnessed by her family members for months before her death, they testified. During that time and for the last few years, Witt was shooting methamphetamine and heroin. In preparation for sentencing, eight letters were sent to the judge from Cramblit’s family members. Her family all wrote of the impacts of her death to her three children, who at the time of her shooting were 3, 5, and 8.
Witt is currently being held in the Yuba County Jail, and will be transferred to state prison.
Previously, Witt had served a term for vehicle theft and reckless evasion in 2013. His criminal history began in 2005 when, at age 15, he performed sex acts on an intoxicated girl.
