Mass. man convicted of ex-girlfriend's murder

Nathaniel Fujita, a 20-year-old Wayland, Mass., man, was convicted on March 7, 2013, of first-degree murder in the death of his ex-girlfriend, Lauren Astley. Fujita had pleaded not guilty in Astley's July 2011 slaying. Both were 18 at the time and had just graduated from Wayland High School. Prosecutors said Fujita took their breakup hard and stabbed and strangled Astley at his home, then left her body in a marsh. A forensic psychiatrist testifying for the defense said Fujita lacked the ability to know his actions were wrong due to depression, daily marijuana use and repeated brain injuries suffered playing football. A psychiatrist for the prosecution said Fujita acted out of rage and understood his actions.

Both Astley and Fujita graduated from Wayland High School shortly before the murder. Prosecutors say they had dated for three years, but the relationship had ended shortly before Astley's murder. A bicyclist found Astley's body in a marshy area near Sudbury, west of Boston, on July 4, 2011.

Police had found Astley's Jeep at the Wayland town beach parking lot the night of July 3, 2011, about an hour after she finished work. According to prosecutors, Astley and Fujita exchanged phone calls while she was at work that day and she had reportedly told co-workers she was going to meet Fujita when her shift was done. Fujita later told police on three occasions that he had spoken with Astley briefly at his home. He said she had parked her car up the road and left after a short "awkward" conversation.

Astley's body was found on July 4, 2011. She had a gaping wound to her throat, according to prosecutors, and a bungee cord wrapped around her neck. At the time, Middlesex County DA Gerry Leone said that Astley was killed by strangulation from "a ligature and a wound to her neck using a sharp object."

At Fujita's home, police say they found blood on the floor of the garage and a bungee cord nearby. They say there was also blood found on a door handle, the kitchen floor, the kitchen sink and a bathroom sink. Investigators say they later found Fujita's bloody clothes and sneakers in a crawl space by his bedroom and that the clothes also had dirt consistent with being in a marsh. Fujita had no prior record. He was accepted and planned to attend Trinity College, in Hartford, Conn., where he was recruited to play football.

Astley was found with a gaping wound to her throat, according to prosecutors, and a bungee cord wrapped around her neck. At the time, Middlesex County DA Gerry Leone said Astley was killed by strangulation from "a ligature and a wound to her neck using a sharp object."

Former Wayland High School football player Nathaniel Fujita had pleaded not guilty to murdering his 18-year-old former girlfriend Lauren Astley in July 2011. Fujita was also 18 at the time of the murder. He was convicted of first-degree murder.

Police found Astley's Jeep at the Wayland town beach parking lot July 3, 2011, about an hour after she finished work. According to prosecutors, Astley and Fujita exchanged phone calls while she was at work that day and she reportedly told co-workers she was going to meet Fujita when her shift was done. Fujita later told police on three occasions that he had spoken with Astley briefly at his home. He said she had parked her car up the road and left after a short "awkward" conversation.

Both Astley and Fujita graduated from Wayland High School shortly before the murder. Prosecutors say they had dated for three years, but the relationship had ended shortly before the murder. A bicyclist found Astley's body in a marshy area near Sudbury, west of Boston, the morning of July 4, 2011.

Police found Astley's Jeep at the Wayland town beach parking lot July 3, 2011, about an hour after she finished work. According to prosecutors, Astley and Fujita exchanged phone calls while she was at work that day and she reportedly told co-workers she was going to meet Fujita when her shift was done. Fujita later told police on three occasions that he had spoken with Astley briefly at his home. He said she had parked her car up the road and left after a short "awkward" conversation.

Former Wayland High School football player Nathaniel Fujita had pleaded not guilty to murdering his 18-year-old former girlfriend Lauren Astley in July 2011. Fujita, was also 18 at the time of the murder. He was convicted of first-degree murder.

Astley was found on July 4, 2011 with a gaping wound to her throat, according to prosecutors, and a bungee cord wrapped around her neck. At the time, Middlesex County DA Gerry Leone said Astley was killed by strangulation from "a ligature and a wound to her neck using a sharp object."