Jury finds Owatonna man guilty of murder of former girlfriend

OWATONNA, Minn. (KTTC) – A jury has found an Owatonna man to be guilty of the murder of his former girlfriend, according to the Steele County Attorney’s Office.

Jason Lee Horner, 41, was found guilty of killing Sabrina Lee Schnoor. Horner was found guilty of five counts, including second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, and possession of a firearm by an ineligible person.

The jury reportedly deliberated for about seven hours before reaching the verdict following the trial, which spanned 11 days.

The criminal complaint stated Horner admitted he was present went Schnoor died but claimed she had shot herself. However, the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of Schnoor’s death was a single gunshot wound to the mouth, which was “consistent with a homicide, not an accident or suicide.”

The criminal complaint also stated the weapon used to kill Schnoor was removed from the scene prior to police arrival. The investigation revealed Horner and Schnoor had walked the train tracks to an overpass under I-35, where Schnoor was killed.

Friends reportedly discovered Schnoor the next day by tracking her phone’s location.

“Today’s verdict held Mr. Horner accountable for his act of domestic violence in the homicide of Sabrina Schnoor,” County Attorney Robert Jarrett said. “While no outcome can ever heal the heartbreak of losing a loved one, I hope today’s verdict brings some peace and comfort to Sabrina’s family and loved ones.”

Horner still remains in custody pending sentencing, which is set for Dec. 22, at 10 a.m. at the Steele County Courthouse.

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