Sleeping with Death is featuring the case of Keith Yunk, who was murdered by his wife Anita Yunk’s ex-husband, Luther Basse, during a home invasion attack at their home in Largo, Florida.
In the early hours of Dec. 15, 1991, Anita woke up and found a masked intruder in her bedroom who attacked her with a knife and an ax.
He slit her throat, stabbed her in the ribs, and struck her on the head.
The commotion woke her husband, and he immediately intervened, which led to a struggle. It was during that time that the intruder repeatedly stabbed Keith.
Anita ran out of the house and went to one of her neighbors for help.
As the intruder fled the scene, one of the couple’s children, a 12-year-old boy, had awakened.
He went to their bedroom and tried to help Keith, but the 31-year-old died from 14 stab wounds.
Watch the Latest on our YouTube ChannelAnita miraculously survived.
Luther Basse confessed to the killing of Keith Yunk
Basse, a firefighter in Oregon, became the prime suspect when detectives learned that he had threatened to kill Anita after their divorce in 1990.
When detectives traveled to his location and questioned him about the murder, he said he had nothing to do with it.
He claimed to have had an alibi.
Basse told detectives that he was out hunting elk when Keith was killed. But there was one issue with that story: police couldn’t verify it because he said he was by himself.
Finally, Basse broke down and admitted to killing Keith. He asserted that it was not his intention to kill him and said he was just “a casualty of war.”
His initial plan was to kill his ex-wife so that he could get custody of their children because he thought she wasn’t a good mother.
Basse was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, but two public defenders argued that Basse should face a lesser charge of second-degree murder.
They were also hoping for a lighter sentence, as they believe life behind bars would be difficult because he wouldn’t be able to see his children.
Prosecutors stated that Basse didn’t think of them when he murdered Keith and tried to kill their mother.
In 1993, a jury deliberated for an hour before finding Basse guilty of first-degree murder.
A judge sentenced Basse to two life sentences with an additional 17 years for armed burglary.
He is currently serving his time at the South Bay Correctional Facility in Palm Beach County, Florida.
Sleeping with Death airs Sundays at 7/6c on Oxygen.