A St. Louis man, Robert E. Bunger, has been handed a seven-year prison sentence for the assault of his boyfriend, Jordan Harris, an event that preceded Harris's death due to heart-related complications, as reported by the St. Louis Circuit Court's official news page. On the evening of June 28, 2023, Bunger violently attacked Harris in the Dutchtown neighborhood, with witnesses capturing the incident on video and dialing 911 for emergency assistance, Harris, who was battling a heart condition, could not withstand the physical onslaught that included kicks, punches, and being struck with objects.
With the original charge of second-degree murder being reduced to third-degree assault following a plea agreement, Bunger admitted his guilt before Circuit Judge John T. Bird yesterday; the dismissal of the more severe charge brings to light how the wheels of justice grind in both predictable and puzzling ways, Bunger, 44, was cognizant of Harris's medical frailty, an aspect that authorities and medical examiners emphasized when declaring Harris's death a homicide. In court, amidst the legal procedures and solemn declarations, a sister of Harris remembered him as a "wondrous, loving, family man," as mentioned on the St. Louis Circuit Court website, whose love for Bunger remained steadfast despite the tragic circumstances.
The details of this plea agreement and sentencing come direct from the St. Louis Circuit Court, where it is documented that Judge Bird condemned Bunger for failing to recognize the gravity of Harris's condition during the assault, Bunger made no personal statements during his court appearance about the incident which has now sealed his fate for the next several years. Concurrently with the seven-year sentence, Bunger will serve a five-year probation linked to prior convictions from 2018 for burglary, theft, and property damage, including credit for the time he has already spent incarcerated while awaiting trial.
Case number 2322-CR02276-01 is closed with Bunger's admission of guilt.