A Chattanooga man who claimed the devil made him kill his estranged girlfriend pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
Sean Ryan Little, 41, was sentenced Thursday to 21 years in prison in connection with the stabbing of Sara Ferguson, according to his judgment record.
Little was initially charged with first-degree murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser offense.
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home on the 7800 block of Safari Drive around 4:45 p.m. on Dec. 7, 2022, according to an affidavit in the case.
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Ferguson’s son told deputies he saw Little on top of his mother’s bloody body with a knife.
When he called out, Little started to chase him down the stairs with the knife, saying “the devil made me do it,” the affidavit said. The witness’ 3-year-old brother was also present at the time.
Ferguson was reportedly found on her back in an upstairs bedroom with stab wounds on her face, chest and back, the affidavit said. There was also a knife found near Ferguson’s body.
Deputies found Little in a wooded area near the home after he tried to flee the scene, the affidavit said.
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General Sessions Court Judge Lila Statom had granted Ferguson an order of protection against Little in April 2022. At a 2023 preliminary hearing, Statom said Little not only violated that order by not staying away from Ferguson but also “by murdering her.”
It was a domestic matter that escalated, Hamilton County prosecutor Jason Demastus said by phone. There were prior records of Little having mental health treatment for certain conditions.
There were considerations made for the domestic nature of the murder, the history of the parties’ past relationship and Little’s mental health background, Demastus said.
Ferguson had a great deal of family present at Little’s sentencing.
“Given the circumstances, obviously, I think they would love to see him in prison for his entire life,” Demastus said. “However, given the facts and some of the considerations to be made about trial and the evidence presented to a jury, the state made its decision to go ahead and settle that.”
Contact courts reporter Sofia Saric at ssaric@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476.