Man sentenced to 30 years in prison after death of wife

MADISONVILLE, Ky. – A man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after the remains of his wife were found several years ago in Fredonia, Kentucky.

In a release by the the Kentucky State Police on Friday, April 12, authorities say 56-year-old Lawrence Joseph Florentine of Rock Hill, South Carolina was sentenced for interstate domestic violence resulting in the death of his wife, Nicole Zahnd Florentine, use of a firearm during a crime of violence, obstruction of justice and use of fire to commit interstate domestic violence.

Beginning in December 2019, authorities say police in South Carolina responded to several calls from Nicole Florentine stating that her husband “physically abused her and threatened to kill her, burn her and bury her.”

In May 2020, troopers say Lawrence Florentine sent “angry text messages and photographs” showing he “intentionally” set the couple’s South Carolina home on fire to destroy his wife’s belongings. Troopers say arson charges are pending.

However, Nicole Florentine’s body was not discovered until June 2020, when a groundskeeper in Fredonia, Kentucky found what appeared to be a makeshift grave, troopers say.

Authorities say Caldwell County deputies recovered partially charred female remains. Troopers say a gas can was also discovered nearby, and an autopsy determined Nicole Florentine’s death as a homicide.

Troopers say they found the cause of her death to be a gunshot wound to the head.

In the days leading up to the discovery of her body, authorities say Nicole Florentine was traveling with her husband in North and South Carolina.

Troopers say witnesses reported a vehicle matching the description of Lawrence Florentine’s car was around the cemetery before his wife’s remains were discovered. In addition, authorities say a local hardware clerk described Lawrence Florentine as someone who had entered the store on June 11, 2022 to purchase a gas can and shovel.

According to authorities, Lawrence Florentine discarded evidence as he fled from Kentucky to Denver, Colorado, where he was arrested.

During sentencing, authorities say the judge noted that, in addition “to killing her, Florentine deliberately prevented Nicole’s family from learning of her death” and deprived them of the chance “to mourn her properly.”

United States district judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Florentine to 360 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Florentine was also ordered to pay $5,800 in restitution.

Florentine’s sentence included a 10-year consecutive sentence because he used fire during the commission of interstate domestic violence.