Man shot himself with handgun stolen from squad car he
sped off in, police find - Escapee's wife distracted deputy

An investigation found David O. " D.J."  Sensabaugh  Jr. knew he 
was headed for jail and had vowed that he wouldn't go, Rockbridge 
County Commonwealth's Attorney Gordon Saunders said.

By MATT CHITTUM
The Roanoke_Times

The fugitive who stole a Rockbridge County sheriff's deputy's car 
two weeks ago escaped while the deputy who captured him tried to keep 
the man's teen-age wife from following her husband's directions to a loaded
gun.

David 0. "D.J." Sensabaugh Jr. of Rockbridge County eventually shot
and killed himself after a brief shootout with deputies several hours
later. 

State police investigated the shooting, and Rockbridge County 
Commonwealth's Attorney Gordon Saunders released details of the
events Thursday.

The image that emerges of 19-year-old Sensabaugh is that of a
recalcitrant criminal bound for prison, but determined to remain free.

Deputy Tony McFaddin arrested Sensabaugh about 4 a.m. Dec. 8 at
his wife's grandmother's house. He was charged with four crimes: two
counts of grand larceny, destruction of property and eluding police.

Sensabaugh had pleaded guilty to statutory rape of a 15-year-old girl
in October, Saunders said. He was sentenced to probation and 60 days in
jail. He was supposed to report for jail Dec.27.

In the interim, he was charged with stealing a car in Buena Vista.
When police tried to arrest him on that charge, he fled.

He was supposed to meet with his probation officer the morning of
Dec. 8, and told people he believed his probation would be revoked,
Saunders said.

He told several people he wasn't going to jail, and he was "going to
go down fighting," according to Saunders.

As McFaddin handcuffed Sensabaugh, his 17-year-old wife ran to kiss
him, Saunders said. Sensabaugh whispered something in her ear, and she
ran out of the house to a shed.

Sensabaugh shouted instructions to his wife as McFaddin led him to
his police cruiser, Saunders said. As McFaddin strapped Sensabaugh into
the front seat with his hands cuffed behind him, he heard Sensabaugh's
mother-in-law shouting that her daughter was trying to reach a gun.

McFaddin ran to the shed. Sensabaugh, who was very thin, managed
to move his hands around his legs so they were in front of him, 
Saunders said. He locked himself in the cruiser, which was running, 
put the car into gear and sped off, nearly hitting his wife, her mother 
and a neighbor before plowing through a fence on his way to the road.


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http://www.roanoketimes.com/roatimes/news/story104564.html - 12/22/00