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SALT LAKE CITY — A Spanish Fork man who was convicted in June of murdering his wife was sentenced to serve up to 45 years in prison Monday in Provo's 4th District Court.
Curtis Ray Nichols, 37, pleaded guilty June 24 to murdering his wife, Robin Nichols, in 2017, court records show.
Curtis Nichols was convicted of murder, a second-degree felony; three counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, a third-degree felony; and obstructing justice, a second-degree felony. He will serve a minimum of two years in prison for the convictions, according to his sentencing order.
His prison sentence for each count was ordered to run consecutively, and it was recommended by the court that his time spent in jail not count toward his prison sentence, according to court documents.
At the sentencing hearing Monday, Robin Nichols’ family members and friends addressed the court, according to court documents. Following their remarks, prosecutor Christine Scott spoke, followed by Curtis Nichols, court documents show.
Officers found Robin Nichols, 35, unconscious and not breathing on the floor of her kitchen on Aug. 24, 2017, about 11 p.m., according to Spanish Fork police.
She had neck injuries and no other signs of trauma on her body, according to charging documents. Crews attempted to revive her before she was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
An autopsy found she was strangled, the charges say.
Her husband initially told police he was coming home from a trip to Walmart and McDonald’s when he found her body and called 911, according to court documents. When asked about scratch marks on his head, he told investigators he had hit his head on a cabinet or drawer while he performed CPR on his wife.
Officers also observed scratch marks on his face and arms. Forensic analysis later revealed male cells under Robin Nichols' fingernails on her right hand matched her husband's DNA, the charges state.
