Jury convicts man in 2023 murder of ex-girlfriend in Owatonna

A jury on Thursday returned a guilty verdict for a man charged in the 2023 murder of his ex-girlfriend in Owatonna.

Jason Lee Horner, 41, was convicted on counts of second-degree murder and possession of a firearm or ammunition by an ineligible person for the killing of 25-year-old Sabrina Schnoor.

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As previously reported, Horner shot and killed Schnoor under a highway overpass on May 29, 2023, and left her body behind. Surveillance footage showed the two walking along the railroad tracks and underneath the bridge, but only Horner emerged.

According to a criminal complaint, prior to the shooting, Schnoor had mentioned to a friend that Horner had gotten a gun and that she likewise needed to arm herself. Horner had an apparent history of abusing Schnoor and at one point had threatened to kill her.

Schnoor’s friends found her body by tracking the location on her phone after she said she was going to meet with Horner, despite warnings not to.

Sabrina Schnoor remembered

In the wake of Schnoor’s murder, loved ones created a memorial at the site where she was shot, using purple paint to signify domestic abuse awareness.

Sabrina’s sister, Serenity Schnoor, said she was a “beautiful person inside and out.”

Sabrina Schnoor
(Family photo)

A memorial for Sabrina Schnoor is seen under the I-35 bridge near Florence Avenue in Owatonna on June 5, 2023.
(KSTP-TV)

An online fundraiser posted to support the victim’s family mentioned she was the mother to a young child.

RELATED: ‘A Beautiful Soul’: Loved ones remember 25-year-old Elysian woman

The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office prosecuted the case at the request of Steele County Attorney Robert Jarrett.

“My heart goes out to Sabrina Schnoor’s family, friends, and loved ones,” Attorney General Keith Ellison said. “She was a mother, an artist, and someone who brought tremendous joy and happiness to those around her. And Sabrina was taken from us far too soon. Today, a jury of Jason Horner’s peers held him accountable for Sabrina’s murder. I hope that can bring some measure of solace to Sabrina’s loved ones.”

Horner’s sentencing is set for Dec. 22. He faces up to 40 years in prison.

If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, several resources are available to offer help. For immediate help, contact:

The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.

Minnesota Day One at 866-223-1111.

The Women’s Advocates crisis line at 651-227-8284.

More than 12 million people just in the U.S. are affected by domestic violence every year, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

The organizations listed above can help connect victims to resources like safe shelter, advocacy, legal help and support groups.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline also offers tips for identifying abuse and supporting victims of abuse. CLICK HERE to see those.

Other organizations that can help include:

Violence Free Minnesota at 651-646-6177 or 800-289-6177.

STANDPOINT(formerly the Battered Women’s Legal Advocacy Project) at 612-343-9842.

Mending the Sacred Hoop at 888-305-1650.

Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault at 612-209-9993.

Minnesota also has a list of many other resources for victims of crimes that can be found HERE.

The post Jury convicts man in 2023 murder of ex-girlfriend in Owatonna first appeared on KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News.