Amber Lee Runau: Woman gets 30 years for brutally killing her former babysitter, joins sister in prison!
BAXTER COUNTY, ARKANSAS: Amber Lee Runao, 22, a woman from Arkansas, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to the murder of her one-time babysitter. As per court documents accessed by Law&Crime, on Monday, October 17, the 22-year-old admitted to the second-degree murder of her babysitter Sharon Adler.
A resident of Gassville in Baxter County, Runao killed Adler nearly two years ago. A law enforcement affidavit shows that on August 17, 2020, the accused told Emergency Services and a 911 dispatcher that she had "stabbed" the victim "in the heart." As it turns out, Runao's older sister is also in prison for an unrelated attempted murder. Both instances involved the use of knives.
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According to the sentencing papers, the presumptive sentencing range for the 22-year-old was between 15 and 25 years. However, this was altered and she was sentenced to 30 years in prison after a plea agreement that suggested a more serious penalty for the second-degree murder charges, while also allowing her to avoid life imprisonment for the original charge of first-degree murder.
The scene of the crime, 601 Elm Street in Gassville, was a red and brick ranch in the style of the 1960s, featuring a two-car garage. When responding officers arrived, they asked the dispatcher to keep Runau on the line, which she did. An affidavit also reveals that she immediately admitted to her crime and told the officers that she had stabbed Adler in the heart. She was booked with the original charge of first-degree murder with a bail set at $1 million.
"[We] entered the residence and discovered Mrs Adler sitting in her recliner with a large kitchen knife protruding from her upper left chest area. For Officer safety, we cleared the house then checked Mrs Adler for signs of life, none were found, the Coroner was requested at that time. After the Coroner picked up Mrs Adler we transported Ms Runau to the Gassville Police Department, she was given Miranda Rights, and then described her actions in a very matter of fact manner," read the affidavit.
The document also explained that Runau had "described her stabbing of the victim and her further action in watching the eyes as the victim died."
According to KTLO, the victim was a long-time family friend and had been the babysitter of both, Runau and her older sister. The events surrounding the murder were also explained. Turns out, the accused "became upset when she could not ‘fix’ a picture frame and took her anger out on the victim."