<p>A Minnesota man was convicted of first-degree murder Thursday for beheading his girlfriend in front of several witnesses.</p>.<p>Alexis Saborit, 44, was found guilty in the slaying of America Thayer, 56, in July 2021.</p>.<p>The <em>Minneapolis Star Tribune</em> reports that Saborit struck Thayer with an 8-pound dumbbell while they were in a vehicle near downtown Shakopee, then he decapitated her with a machete.</p>.<p>People in other cars and nearby homes saw the attack. One of them shot a video that appeared to show Saborit pull Thayer's body out of the car into the street then pick up her head by the hair.</p>.<p>Saborit and Thayer were on the way to his court appearance for felony charges alleging that he set fire to their apartment in Shakopee during a confrontation with police and that Saborit attacked Thayer after she told him she wanted to end their relationship.</p>.<p>Saborit fled the scene and disposed of the machete along the way. He was arrested about 1½ miles away near the TraveLodge Hotel where he was staying.</p>.<p>County Attorney Ron Hocevar said he was pleased with the verdict, and that he expects Saborit to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. </p>
<p>A Minnesota man was convicted of first-degree murder Thursday for beheading his girlfriend in front of several witnesses.</p>.<p>Alexis Saborit, 44, was found guilty in the slaying of America Thayer, 56, in July 2021.</p>.<p>The <em>Minneapolis Star Tribune</em> reports that Saborit struck Thayer with an 8-pound dumbbell while they were in a vehicle near downtown Shakopee, then he decapitated her with a machete.</p>.<p>People in other cars and nearby homes saw the attack. One of them shot a video that appeared to show Saborit pull Thayer's body out of the car into the street then pick up her head by the hair.</p>.<p>Saborit and Thayer were on the way to his court appearance for felony charges alleging that he set fire to their apartment in Shakopee during a confrontation with police and that Saborit attacked Thayer after she told him she wanted to end their relationship.</p>.<p>Saborit fled the scene and disposed of the machete along the way. He was arrested about 1½ miles away near the TraveLodge Hotel where he was staying.</p>.<p>County Attorney Ron Hocevar said he was pleased with the verdict, and that he expects Saborit to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. </p>