Mesa man sentenced to 19 years in prison after killing his girlfriend who was pregnant with twins

PHOENIX — A Mesa man was sentenced to 19 years in prison for the 2021 murder of his girlfriend and her unborn twins, authorities announced Friday.

Michael Owen Foster, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter in the shooting of his pregnant girlfriend at the couple’s residence, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

“A mother, her unborn twins and a family were destroyed by one violent, reckless act,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in the announcement.

Prosecutors share details about case of Mesa man who murdered pregnant girlfriend

Police officers discovered the crime scene while responding to a domestic violence call at the couple’s residence in May 2021, prosecutors said.

They found Foster outside the residence, who admitted to arguing with his girlfriend before the fatal shooting.

Responding officers with the Mesa Police Department found Foster’s girlfriend dead in an upstairs bedroom.

Three young children were in the home at the time of the murder.

“Domestic violence escalates quickly and can have devastating consequences, which is why our office will never stop pursuing justice for victims,” Mitchell said.

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