A 25-year-old man from Wisconsin has been sentenced to 26 years to life in prison for the murder of his 74-year-old grandmother, Nancy Lovejoy, whom he fatally shot to prevent her from contacting the authorities after discovering his gun.
What Happened?
Sean C. Couture, the man convicted of first-degree intentional homicide, pleaded guilty to killing his grandmother in August 2024. In exchange for his guilty plea, several other charges, including operating a firearm while intoxicated, were dismissed.
Couture was sentenced by Waukesha County Circuit Judge J. Arthur Melvin III on Tuesday, receiving credit for 388 days already served in jail.
The incident occurred on the evening of August 25, 2024, when police responded to a 911 call about shots fired in Waukesha. Couture’s parents, who were out of state on vacation, received a troubling call from their son.
He told them, “It’s over, it’s over,” and revealed that he had shot his grandmother and was planning to take his own life next.
What Led to the Shooting?
When authorities arrived at the home, Couture had locked himself inside. Using a drone, they were able to confirm that the body of an adult woman, later identified as Nancy Lovejoy, was lying motionless at the bottom of the stairs leading to the basement.
A rescue team later recovered her body, and she was declared dead from multiple gunshot wounds.
Upon entering the home with the help of a K-9 unit, police detained Couture, who was heavily intoxicated. His blood alcohol content registered at 0.45—more than five times the legal driving limit.
Officers found a handgun and several magazines in the house, as well as a receipt showing that Couture had purchased the weapon a few months earlier in June 2024.
Couture’s Confession
At the hospital, Couture spoke with police officers and admitted to the crime. According to the affidavit, Couture revealed that he and his grandmother had argued after she found the gun in his room.
Fearing she would call the police, he shot her just outside the side door of the house. Afterward, he dragged her body inside and left it at the bottom of the basement stairs to avoid leaving it outside. Couture also admitted to drinking alcohol both before and after the shooting.
The Sentence and Ongoing Impact
Couture’s actions have left a devastating impact on his family and the community. The tragic loss of Nancy Lovejoy, a 74-year-old woman, has shocked everyone who knew her. Couture’s guilty plea and sentencing highlight the seriousness of his crime, and he will spend a significant part of his life in prison for taking his grandmother’s life.
