SCRANTON, PA – A Lackawanna County man was ordered to spend the rest of his life in prison Tuesday after a jury convicted him of killing his girlfriend and unsuccessfully attempting suicide following the murder.

Donnell Brunson, 57, received a mandatory life sentence for first-degree murder, as well as an additional 18-to-24 months for risking catastrophe. Both sentences will run consecutively, according to the ruling handed down by Judge Michael Barrasse in the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas.

The brutal attack took place in late November 2023, when Brunson, overtaken by suspicion that his girlfriend was being unfaithful, launched a series of escalating assaults against 49-year-old Danielle Barbuti at her Scranton apartment. According to court documents, Brunson admitted to detectives that after waking up on Nov. 28, he attacked Barbuti as she lay sleeping, delivering multiple blows with his fists before escalating to using a ceramic ashtray and ultimately suffocating her with a pillow.

Authorities said that after the killing, Brunson tried several times to end his own life. He swallowed a large quantity of sleeping pills, slit his wrist with a craft knife, and turned on the gas stove in Barbuti’s apartment in a failed attempt at causing an explosion.

Brunson reportedly told investigators that he believed he either had to die or spend his life in prison. Hours after the murder attempt, he regained consciousness only to find Barbuti’s lifeless body next to him and her sister unsuccessfully trying to reach her by phone.

Faced with the aftermath, Brunson covered Barbuti’s face with a blanket, attempted to clean himself, and left the apartment. He continued his suicide attempts, purchasing more pills and breaking into a mobile home where police later found him, bleeding and partially concealed under a blanket. Blood was discovered inside the mobile home, on his hands, and in his vehicle.

Barbuti’s sister ultimately discovered her body after repeated calls went unanswered, and she arrived at the apartment to check on her. Responding officers described a gruesome scene, including bloodstains, a bloodied knife, and an open pill bottle bearing Brunson’s name.

An autopsy determined that Barbuti died of asphyxia. The violent nature of the killing left a lasting mark on both families, as described during the sentencing hearing. Barbuti’s sister described her sibling as a joyful presence who loved to bake, cook, and sing, especially during the holidays.

She addressed Brunson in court, speaking about the pain wrought by the crime and the ripple effects on both families, noting that he had robbed his own children of their father as well.

Brunson expressed remorse when given the opportunity to speak, but also introduced unfounded allegations about the victim, mentioning supposed satanic objects among her possessions—claims that were never substantiated during the investigation.

Barbuti’s sister-in-law, responding to Brunson’s assertions, questioned why he had not simply left the relationship if he felt threatened or unhappy, rather than resorting to fatal violence.

Court records revealed that Barbuti had texted Brunson the evening before her death, thanking him for his trust—a stark contrast to the violence that followed hours later. Authorities said the case serves as a solemn reminder of the devastating impacts of domestic violence.