Santa Rosa man begins decades-long prison sentence in death of his mother

<p>A 43-year-old man convicted of stabbing his mother to death with scissors was sentenced Monday to state prison.</p><p>Christopher Lavis will serve a minimum of 26 years before he becomes eligible for parole in the Sept. 11, 2008 slaying of Connie LaSalle, 63, in a Santa Rosa townhouse.</p><p>Lavis pleaded guilty to first-degree murder on Oct. 29 as part of an agreement with prosecutors to drop a torture allegation which could have brought a life sentence.</p><p>Lavis was accused of stabbing his mother 45 times during an argument. Detectives said the often-homeless man covered her body with blankets and remained in the apartment for 10 days, ordering pizza and emptying her refrigerator.</p><p>After his arrest in San Francisco, Lavis admitted the killing, explaining he snapped when his mother tried to kick him out. He began stabbing her with kitchen shears and used a Roman gladius for the final blow, he said.</p>