Robert Allen Gaffney, 38, of Lexington has been sentenced to 25 years by Judge Walton J. McLeod IV after being convicted of attempted murder.

According to a press release, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department received a 9-1-1 call on May 26, 2023. In this phone call, a woman reported that she had been assaulted by her boyfriend and was injured.

Deputies then found the victim covered in blood with gaping wounds and lacerations to her face, neck and chest. Officers determined that Gaffney used a box cutter to cut and stab the victim over 20 times. Gaffney also struck her in the head. The victim was transported to the hospital and shortly after underwent surgery for the injuries.

Gaffney fled the scene and was found with blood inside his car and on his clothing, according to the release. He was arrested and later confessed to stabbing the victim.

Investigators found that Gaffney searched the internet on how to murder someone. Gaffney also told a family member, “[M]y full intentions were to kill her,” the press release read.

This case was prosecuted by 11th Circuit Assistant Solicitor Whitney Taylor and investigator Brandon Kinder of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.

Gaffney will begin serving his sentence at the South Carolina Department of Corrections.