A Mesa man, Michael Owen Foster, has been sentenced to 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to Manslaughter in connection with the 2021 shooting death of his girlfriend during a domestic violence incident.
During the early morning hours of May 2021, Mesa Police responded to a domestic violence call at the couple’s residence. Officers located the victim deceased in an upstairs bedroom. Three young children were present in the home at the time of the incident. Foster, who was outside the residence when officers arrived, admitted to being involved in an argument with the victim before the shooting occurred. It was later confirmed that the victim was pregnant with twins at the time of her death.
Throughout the investigation, Foster gave conflicting accounts of what led to the shooting. Forensic evidence and witness statements contradicted several of his claims, ultimately confirming his direct role in the fatal act. The case underscored the deadly consequences of introducing a firearm into a volatile domestic situation — especially one involving young children and a pregnant victim.
“A mother, her unborn twins, and a family were destroyed by one violent, reckless act,” said County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “Domestic violence escalates quickly and can have devastating consequences, which is why our office will never stop pursuing justice for victims.”
There’s only one just punishment for wanton murder, whether or not the perp regrets his actions the remaining days of his life (all 1,095 days of it).