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There will be no chance of freedom for Aaron Schaffhausen. A St. Croix County judge on Monday sentenced the 35 year-old Schaffhausen to three consecutive life-terms. He’ll spend a minimum of 60 years in prison with no parole for the murders of his three daughters at his ex-wife’s home in River Falls just over a year ago.
During his comments prior to passing sentence, Judge Howard Cameron said the majority of people work through their divorces, and he cannot find any mitigating circumstances in Schaffhausen’s favor, including any sort of mental illness. “In this situation, I have to send the message, to Jessica, to the public, that each child is so important.”
AUDIO: Judge Cameron (:17)
In April, Schaffhausen pleaded guilty to slashing the throats of his three daughters, 11-year-old Amara, 8-year-old Sophie, and 5-year-old Cecilia Schaffhausen, to get back at his ex-wife. His attorneys tried to convince a jury that he was insane at the time of the murders. Schaffhausen remained emotionless during the sentencing.
Schaffhausen was also sentenced to 12 years on an arson charge, with an additional seven years of supervised release. At his sentencing hearing, the judge says he didn’t believe Schaffhausen could be rehabilitated at this point and time, and any potential rehabilitation could be achieved in prison.
Mike Ness, WAYY/Larry Lee, WSAU