Saratoga Springs murder suspect rejects plea deal

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — The Saratoga Springs man charged with second degree murder in connection to the death of Brianna Craig rejected a plea deal in Saratoga County Court on Tuesday. Craig’s family members sobbed after hearing the plea deal was rejected.

The court room was lined with yellow — Craig’s favorite color

“We picked yellow because it’s the brightest color, and she always reminds me of the sun,“ her sister Felicia Travis said.

Sebastian Mabb was charged with murder in February in connection to Craig’s death . Police said the two were intimate partners, and her death was the result of a domestic dispute. A 911 call came from the Vanderbilt Terrace Apartments in Saratoga Springs. That’s where police found Craig’s body.

Autopsy reports reveal Craig died of asphyxiation, according to police.  Mabb is also charged with criminal contempt for violating an order of protection.

Craig’s sister Felicia broke down as she says Brianna’s life was taken too soon.

“She had a whole life ahead of her, and it should have never happened.”

Mabb was offered a plea deal on May 6, which included a prison term of 23 years to life. The judge gave the defense until Tuesday to decide. Craig’s sister said she knew that rejection was a likely possibility, speaking to her experience with Mabb and his character.

“He’s gonna take it to trial,” Travis said. “He wants to hear what he did over again, because he’s proud of what he does. He doesn’t do anything small, so when he does something, he just goes all in or it’s nothing.”

Travis said the family will continue to wear yellow to future court hearings. The next scheduled court date is July 8. The trial is set to begin in September.

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