An Alabama man has pleaded guilty to killing his wife while he held her and their children hostage at their Fultondale home.

Kenneth Nathaniel Sanders, 34, was charged with capital murder in the 2023 shooting death of his wife, 32-year-old Jessica “Bonnie” Brown, a mother of five.

The charge was a capital crime because Brown was killed in the presence of their children.

Sanders on Wednesday pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of murder before Jefferson County Circuit Judge Stephen Wallace.

In exchange for the guilty plea, Sanders received a sentence of life in prison.

The ordeal began about 12:45 p.m. on April 15, 2023, when police received a call about a domestic incident at the couple’s Enclave home.

The couple’s children – who ranged in age at the time from 12 to 5 – were home during the dispute and one of them went to a neighbor’s house where 911 was called.

When an officer arrived at the home, Fultondale Police Chief Marcel Walker said, Brown answered the door.

“Her husband snatched her back inside,‘’ Walker said at the time.

Moments later, the officer heard gunshots and had to retreat until backup arrived.

A five-hour standoff ensued. The standoff ended when police fired tear gas into the home.

The children were not harmed and were taken from the scene by family members, police said.

At the time of the deadly shooting, Sanders was awaiting trial on a domestic violence/strangulation charge that listed Brown as the victim.

Jefferson County Chief Deputy District Attorney Joe Roberts, who prosecuted the case with Deputy District Attorney Tiffany Ould, said Sanders has some significant mental issues.

Prior to settling the case, Sanders’ defense attorneys, Mike Blalock and Tommy McFarland, were seeking to have the judge bar the death penality because of Sanders “severe mental illness.”

Prosecutors consulted with the victim’s family and decided to settle the case instead of risk a verdict at trial of no guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.

“This defendant deserves to serve his time at the Department of Corrections not receiving treatment at Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility,” Roberts said. “Jessica’s family and the Fultondale Police Department are satisfied, under the circumstances, that the defendant admitted his guilt and will serve a long sentence in the Department of Corrections.”