Following eleven hours of deliberation, Friday, a jury of five-men and three-women has found Utah doctor Martin MacNeill guilty of murdering his wife Michele MacNeill six years ago at their Pleasant Grove home.
The verdict comes after prosecutors convinced the jury that Martin MacNeill drugged Michele MacNeill and left her to drown in a tub after forcing her to get plastic surgery. Prosecutors argued that Martin MacNeill's motive was to continue an affair with 37-year-old Gypsy Jyll Willis.
One of the nation's biggest cable TV true-crime cases this year, it shocked the Mormon community as Martin MacNeill lived the "picture perfect" life as a father of eight, who also was a former bishop in his local congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Daughter of both Martin and Michele MacNeil, Alexis Somers, tearfully told the press her satisfaction with the verdict. She, along with other family of Michele MacNeill, hounded authorities to investigate Martin MacNeill after heart disease was the initial finding to the 2007 death of the California native and former local beauty queen.
Damaging testimony from a former girlfriend of Martin MacNeill suggested that he killed a brother and tried to kill his mother. Investigators would later confirm that his brother Rufus Roy MacNeill was found dead in a bathtub in New Jersey. Prison inmates who served time with Martin MacNeill alleged that he acknowledged killing his wife. The defense argued that those handful of prison inmates were angling for an early release, therefore making their testimony doubtful.
"We're just so happy he can't hurt anyone else," said Somers. "There is justice for my mom today."
The couple's only son, 24-year-old law student Damian, committed suicide January 2010 after being haunted by his mother's death according to his sisters.
Deputy Utah County Attorney Chad Grunander called the murder "almost" perfect and was the most difficult case he had ever prosecuted.
"We're absolutely thrilled," said Grunander. "It was an amazing moment to meet with the family... I love it when the system works and it worked these last four weeks."
Found guilty of first-degree murder and obstruction of justice, 57-year-old Martin MacNeill faces up to life in prison Jan.7 when sentenced.
