‘You watched her slowly die’: Michigan man claims consent form excused abuse of his wife

Content warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of intimate partner violence. Please take care while reading.

On September 3, 2025, a Michigan court sentenced Christopher Palazzolo, a 44-year-old man from Williamston, to up to 80 years in prison for the abuse and torture of his wife, Elise Palazzolo, leading to her death in May 2021.

The “consent form” defense

During the trial, Palazzolo’s defense centered around a so-called “waiver consent form” that he claimed Elise had signed, permitting him to physically discipline her for lying. The document allegedly outlined punishments such as cutting her with a knife, and choking and spanking her with a wooden spoon or a wire hanger. Prosecutors argued that this form was fake and did not justify the severe abuse Elise endured.

At the sentencing, Judge Aquilina delivered a powerful statement condemning Palazzolo’s actions: “You have a duty, an elevated duty, as a husband to protect her, to help her, to dial 9-1-1, and you did nothing.”

Elise’s official cause of death: Drug overdose, to “inconclusive”

In 2021, Elise’s official cause of death was a drug overdose, but her death was ruled suspicious due to the discovery of unusual bruising on her body. A subsequent investigation revealed evidence of abuse and torture inflicted by Christopher before she died. Although the exact cause of death could not be conclusively determined, the circumstances surrounding her demise led to charges against her husband.

Palazzolo’s trial revealed extensive evidence of abuse, including injuries in various stages of healing, some of which were consistent with being caused by a metal hanger or pellets from an airsoft gun. Prosecutors also presented testimony of Christopher’s long history of controlling and abusive behavior.

Judge Aquilina added in court, “If you didn’t want to call 9-1-1, you call her parents, you call her sister. Hundreds of people in the community would have come to your door and helped you. You could’ve made a phone call, ‘What do I do?’ I’m sure the answer would have been to call 9-1-1. But you didn’t do that. You didn’t care. You watched her slowly die.”

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, or if you believe someone you know is being abused, contact The National Domestic Violence Hotline. The hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-SAFE or spoken with online via the hotline’s website. Mobile phone owners can also text “START” to the number 88788.