Accused Mom Murderer Michael Saunders Arraigned

Michael Saunders has been arraigned on four felony charges including second-degree murder in connection to the shooting death of Sabrina Durrah, the mother of his infant child, Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced Thursday.

Between March 21 and 24 the district attorney believes Saunders, 49, fatally shot Durrah, 35, in the head and chest inside her apartment at 312 Main St during a confrontation over the child. The infant was in the apartment at the time of the shooting and left there for an extended amount of time, the district attorney said.

The infant was not injured during the shooting, but was left alone and found suffering from dehydration.

Family members discovered Durrah's body on March 24. Saunder's, of 361 Warburton Ave. was arrested while working as a Yonkers bus operator two days later. He faces felony counts of second-degree murder, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment.

Saunders faces a maximum on 32 years to life in state prison if convicted.

He has been remanded to Westchester County jail until his next court appearance on May 10, 2012.

Assistant District Attorney Patricia Murphy, Chief of the Superior Court Trial Division and Assistant District Attorney Wendy Parra, of the Superior Court Trial Division, are prosecuting the case.