Lansing man raped, stabbed woman more than 2 dozen times, asked her why she wouldn't die

LANSING — A Lansing man who brutally raped and stabbed a woman in her home last year, causing her to lose an eye, will have to spend more than three decades in prison.

Samuel Bush, 21, pleaded guilty in April to four felony charges, including attempted murder, in connection with the March 24, 2018 attack.

On Wednesday, Ingham County Circuit Judge Joyce Draganchuk sentenced him to 37 to 60 years for first-degree criminal sexual conduct and 35 to 60 years for assault with intent to murder, court records indicate. Bush also received 12 to 20 years for first-degree home invasion and 6 to 10 years for assault with intent to do great bodily harm.

The sentences will run concurrently.

The victim testified in a preliminary hearing last year that she heard breaking glass during the early morning hours and later found Bush in her house, naked and holding a butcher knife.

Bush put his hand over her mouth, dragged her into her bedroom, pinned her to the floor and told her, "just let me do what I want," she said.

He tore off her clothes and sexually assaulted her, the woman said. She later tried to run from the room, but Bush grabbed her and began stabbing her in the face, she testified.

Prosecutors said he stabbed her more than two dozen times, asking why she wouldn't just die. 

The woman said she lost consciousness for a time but eventually kicked the screen from a window and crawled to the road, calling for help.

Prosecutors described the case as one of the most disturbing they've ever seen.

The woman did not give a victim impact statement during the sentencing, but prosecutors said she has trouble sleeping and family members have found her terrified, curled up in a closet more than once. 

Draganchuk said in the absence of drugs, alcohol or other possible factors, she was left with only one possible motive: Evil. 

Bush initially faced eight counts, but the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office dismissed four of them in exchange for Bush's guilty pleas, court records indicate.

He'll get 445 days credit for the time he's served in jail.

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Contact Ken Palmer at (517) 377-1032 or kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.