TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A jury on Thursday convicted a Florida matriarch on charges stemming from a murder-for-hire plot that led to the death of her former son-in-law, court officials said.
Jurors returned the guilty verdicts after hearing testimony and evidence presented by prosecutors, who told the court the defendant arranged and paid for the killing. The defendant, whose name was announced at trial, was found guilty of the criminal charges underlying the prosecution's case; a judge will set a sentencing date in the coming weeks.
Prosecutors told jurors the slaying was the result of a plot in which the defendant sought to have her former son-in-law killed. The victim, identified in court filings as the defendant's former son-in-law, died as a result of the attack. Defense attorneys disputed the prosecution's characterization of their client's role, arguing the evidence did not prove she orchestrated the killing, according to court records and statements made during the trial.
The case drew intense local scrutiny as it moved through pretrial hearings and testimony. Court proceedings included witness accounts, communications introduced as evidence, and examination of payments and contacts the prosecution said tied the defendant to the hired assailant. The defense sought to cast doubt on the reliability of witnesses and the sufficiency of the evidence tying the defendant to the crime.
Sentencing will be determined by a judge following the jury's verdict. Under Florida law, convictions in murder-for-hire cases carry significant penalties. Prosecutors said they would seek an appropriate sentence based on the conviction and the facts established at trial; defense attorneys indicated they would explore post-trial options available to their client.
Family members of the victim and others attended portions of the trial, and court officials said the courtroom was closely watched during the proceedings. The case adds to a string of high-profile criminal trials in the state that have involved allegations of premeditated, contracted killings.
The criminal justice process now moves to the sentencing phase and potential appeals. Sentencing hearings and any subsequent appellate filings will further clarify the penalties the convicted defendant may face and could add details about the evidence that persuaded jurors to return a guilty verdict.