Hadley Man Sentenced to 20 Years to Life for Brutal Ax Murder of Wife

A Deadly Night in Hadley, NY

What began as a simple argument over a lighter ended in one of the most gruesome murders Hadley, NY, has ever seen.

On May 3, 2017, Michael C. Norton, 59, viciously attacked and killed his wife, Sherry Norton, inside their home on Third Avenue in Hadley, NY.

More than a year later, in a tense courtroom at Saratoga County Court, Norton stood before Judge James Murphy, wiping tears from his face as he confessed:

"It’s all on me. It’s all my fault... I did the damn thing."

Despite his words, the judge showed no sympathy, sentencing Norton to 20 years to life in prison, with an additional 27 months to 7 years for violating an order of protection his wife had placed against him in 2016.

A Murder That Shocked Hadley, NY

• The Crime: In the early morning hours of May 3, 2017, Norton, in a drunken haze, picked up an ax and struck his wife five times—twice in the back and three times in the head.

• The Weapon: An ax swung with such force that her blood splattered across the room.

• The Discovery: A neighbor called 911, and when police arrived at the home on Third Avenue in Hadley, they found Sherry Norton dead on the floor and Michael Norton inside the home.

Alcohol-Fueled Rage or Premeditated Murder?

During the trial, Norton claimed he barely remembered the night due to his .48% blood alcohol level—a dangerously high level of intoxication.

"I don’t remember a lot of it, but I don’t blame it on alcohol," Norton insisted in court.

However, prosecutors painted a different picture.

Saratoga County Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Buckley revealed chilling details:

• Norton swung the ax at least five times, and when his wife was still moving, he kept going.

• His blows were so powerful they penetrated her spine.

• Blood cast from the ax onto the walls, proving the ferocity of the attack.

Prosecutors also pointed out that during pre-sentencing investigations, Norton showed little remorse.

"He seemed more regretful about going to prison than about killing his wife," Buckley stated.

A Pattern of Abuse & Missed Warnings

This wasn’t the first time violence had erupted inside the Norton home.

• April 2016: Sherry Norton filed for an order of protection after Norton fired a gun inside their home during an argument.

• 2017: He was supposed to stay out of trouble, attend counseling, and address his alcoholism.

• Hadley residents now wonder—could this tragedy have been prevented?

Judge Murphy was unforgiving in his sentencing, calling it a classic case of domestic violence where the abuser blames the victim.

"You claim to love your wife, but you showed it in the most horrific way—by killing her," Murphy told Norton.

A Daughter Left in the Aftermath

As Norton repeatedly muttered "I did it" in court, his 20-year-old daughter wept silently in the back.

While her father begins his life sentence, she is left to grapple with the loss of her mother at his hands.

Prosecutors emphasized that despite the years of abuse, Sherry Norton remained loyal to her husband.

"Through it all, she loved him," Buckley told the court.

This case has since become a heartbreaking example of the devastating realities of domestic violence.

What’s Next?

• Michael C. Norton will serve at least 20 years before being eligible for parole.

• Hadley, NY, residents continue to express shock and grief over the crime.

• Advocates hope this case raises awareness about the dangers of domestic violence and the importance of intervention.

For now, justice has been served, but the scars left behind will never fully heal.

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