A Vancouver man who stabbed his roommate and planned to kill her and another woman he previously dated was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison.
Zachary Mitchell Budrow, 21, pleaded guilty in connection with the May 23, 2018, attack.
In addition to his prison sentence to one count of domestic violence attempted first-degree murder, Budrow will serve three years of community custody. He also must undergo a mental health evaluation and anger management treatment.
The prosecution had recommended a 20-year sentence, the high end of the standard sentencing range of 15 to 20 years. However, the plea agreement allowed for the defense to argue for a lesser sentence.
Senior Deputy Prosecutor Anna Klein told the court she has serious concerns for community safety when Budrow is released. She said Budrow had told law enforcement that he felt anger toward women, had thought about killing people and compared himself with serial killers.
Budrow was arrested the morning of May 23, 2018, when police found him wielding a knife, standing in the backyard of one victim’s home, according to a probable cause affidavit.
He and the first victim, who was his roommate, went for a drive from Portland and ended up at McKenzie Stadium in Vancouver. That’s where the woman “exited the vehicle and was followed by Zachary who then stabbed her twice before fleeing,” the affidavit says. She suffered stab wounds to her back.
When the woman was released from the hospital, she said in a second interview with police that Budrow was making death threats during the drive. He even stopped to buy cigarettes so she could have one last smoke before she died, the court document states.
Budrow then drove to the home of the other woman, whom he had previously dated, where he confronted the residents, telling them he’d stabbed someone. He smiled, displayed a knife and threw it on the ground toward three people, according to the affidavit.
On Friday, Klein told the court that after Budrow stabbed the first victim once, he said he knew he had already crossed the line. He needed to see it through, he told the victim, so he stabbed her again.
That victim told the court she doesn’t expect people to understand what she went through. She said she wants to help Budrow and didn’t want him to go to prison.
“I wish it didn’t happen,” she said. She told the judge that she forgives Budrow and hopes he can forgive himself.
The other victim’s father told the court that if Budrow is released, his daughter feels it will be necessary to move from her childhood home. He said that although he’s impressed with the other woman’s willingness to set aside what happened, he believes Budrow is a threat to others.
Defense attorney Jon McMullen said Budrow was not diagnosed with a mental health condition that rose to a true legal defense. He added, however, that Budrow does have mental health issues, because “none of this makes any sense.” McMullen said the state wouldn’t be asking that Budrow undergo a mental health evaluation and treatment if there wasn’t a problem.
He also raised Budrow’s youth as a mitigating factor and said before this incident, Budrow had not been in trouble.
“It’s one of the oddest cases, your honor, I’ve had in 25 years,” McMullen said.
He described Budrow as being “out of sorts” and said it’s unknown what led Budrow to make the statements he did to law enforcement.
“I have to be honest here. Yes, I committed the crime, but I also witnessed what happened, and when I saw what I had done, I was absolutely terrified,” Budrow said.
He couldn’t understand why he attacked his friend and roommate, and wanted to attack the other woman.
“All I can say is I’m sorry,” Budrow said. “I don’t like standing here in front of you like this because this isn’t right.”
Judge Jennifer Snider agreed with McMullen that it was an unusual case, and based on statements from Budrow’s family and friends, it seemed his behavior was an aberration.
“That doesn’t discount the seriousness of what happened in any way,” Snider added, before handing down the 12-year sentence.
“Whatever mental health treatment is available to you inside, I hope you take advantage of it,” she told Budrow.
“Yes, your honor,” he responded.
