After deliberating for less than two hours, jurors sentenced Michele Williams to 60 years in prison for murder and 10 years for tampering with evidence. The sentences will be served concurrently. She had faced up to life in prison.
Michele, 45, shot and killed her husband, Greg Williams, in 2011. She initially told authorities that an intruder shot Greg, but later changed her story to say that her husband committed suicide — which was her defense at trial. She never took the stand.
Before deciding Michele’s fate, the jury listened to a variety of testimony about the convicted murderer's character.
The Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office called a parade of witnesses to discuss Michele’s behavior while out on bond, including allegations of faking a pregnancy, tampering with her GPS monitor and taking a secret beach vacation with her boyfriend.
Michele could be eligible for parole in 30 years, when she will be 75 years old. A previous plea deal that Michele ultimately rejected would have put her away for just 18 years, with a possibility of parole after six.
"This circumstantial evidence case involved convoluted facts, strange twists and turns, and complicated questions of law," deputy chief district attorney Jack Strickland said in a statement. "The credit for this conviction and well-deserved sentence belongs to this conscientious and able jury."
In a powerful victim impact statement, Greg's mother, Betty Middlebrooks, spoke directly to Michele. "You destroyed your family as well as ours," Bettty said.
Jurors wiped away tears as Betty continued. "Greg loved and trusted you with his business and his life. Now, Greg is gone and he'll never see his daughters grow up."
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New to the story? Catch up on the Michele Williams case here:
October 31, 2013: The making of the Keller black widow: Did Michele Williams get away with murder?
January 30, 2014: Keller black widow Michele Williams lands back in Tarrant County jail
February 10, 2014: Michele Williams rejects plea deal and opts for murder trial in husband's death
March 6, 2014: Keller black widow Michele Williams worked at strip club while out on bond
May 2, 2014: Peter Van Sant dishes on what made Michele Williams case so intriguing to 48 Hours
May 15, 2014: Accused murderess Michele Williams gets bond revoked amid fears she'd skip town
May 28, 2014: Couple offers to help post bond for accused murderer Michele Williams
May 30, 2014: Keller black widow Michele Williams gets bond raised to $850,000 for husband's murder
July 22, 2014: Family suspects Michele Williams in mysterious death of her brother-in-law
September 22, 2014: Keller black widow Michele Williams goes on trial for her husband's murder
September 23, 2014: Son testifies that Michele Williams tried to frame another woman for husband's murder
September 23, 2014: Prosecutors offer new theory for why Keller black widow Michele Williams murdered her husband
September 24, 2014: Interrogation video shows Michele Williams repeatedly denied husband's suicide
September 25, 2014: Prosecution plays 48 Hours episode during Michele Williams murder trial
September 26, 2014: Michele Williams doesn't testify in her own defense at husband's murder trial
Michele and Greg Williams married in 2008.
