Donna Horwitz, an ex-resident of Jupiter, Florida, is serving a 32-year sentence in prison after being convicted of the second-degree murder of her ex-husband, Lanny Horwitz. Her case was based on a tragic shooting incident that happened in September 2011 where Lanny was shot several times in their house.
Donna was sentenced in 2017 after an extended legal battle that included a retrial and a reversed first-degree murder conviction. To this day, she remains incarcerated at Lowell Correctional Institution in Florida.
The trial garnered great media publicity, especially when episodes were aired on crime-related shows such as Mother, May I Murder? which looked into the details of her affair with Lanny and how his death happened. The case will again be featured on Snapped Season 35 episode 4 titled Donna Horwitz, airing on January 26, 2025, on Oxygen.
Background of the Case
According to WPTV, the marriage between Donna and Lanny Horwitz was stormy and complicated. They married and divorced twice before living together again at the time of Lanny's death. On September 30, 2011, police found Lanny dead in the bathroom of their upscale home in Jupiter.
Initially, authorities suspected suicide due to the nature of the scene, but further investigation revealed multiple gunshot wounds—specifically nine bullets—that led them to consider homicide instead.
According to CBS News, Donna was charged with committing the crime of first-degree murder but upon successful appeal, she was found guilty of second-degree murder as the lower court judgment was set aside.
The defense for her case in her trial argued that the blame could lie on their son, Radley, or Lanny's business partner, as either of them could have caused the shooting. Nonetheless, the jury convicted Donna based on the evidence at the retrial.
Legal proceedings and sentencing
According to court documents, Donna's legal process is full of significant twists. It started with a life-in-prison sentence for first-degree murder in 2013. This was overturned on account of a significant flaw with her right to remain silent in police questioning.
According to WPTV, a retrial in 2017 again found her guilty but this time of second-degree murder. The jury's decision resulted in a prison sentence of 32 years. According to CBS News, during the sentencing, there were emotional testimonies from family members who expressed their grief and anger over Lanny's death.
The judge noted that while she understood the severity of the crime, the jury's verdict played a crucial role in determining the appropriate sentence. Donna Horwitz will serve 26 years of her sentence after being credited for time already served.
Where is Donna Horwitz now?
Currently, Donna Horwitz is serving her time in Florida at Lowell Correctional Institution, as reported by WPTV. Her case continues to gain media attention as it sheds light on issues concerning complicated family dynamics.
The airing of episodes featuring this case and her story on shows such as Snapped maintains the public's interest regarding her life both before and after the murder.
According to CBS News, apart from her detention, Donna's lawyers have expressed intentions to appeal the conviction made against her. This means that there is still some unfinished business from her story that may see new developments soon.
In summary, Donna Horwitz is presently in prison and has been for many years for the second-degree murder of her ex-husband Lanny Horwitz. She has had a complicated legal trial with two trials and an overturned conviction, and is now at Lowell Correctional Institution, Florida.