LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A Lake County jury deliberated for about four hours Friday before finding a woman guilty of second-degree murder in the death of her husband.

What You Need To Know

  • Laurie Shaver found guilty of second-degree murder; not guilty of accessory after the fact

  • Back in 2018, Michael Shaver’s remains were discovered, buried under a concrete block

  • Friday, jurors heard from a neighbor, personal trainer and Laurie’s friend

Laurie Shaver was, however, found not guilty on a second count of accessory after the fact.

Michael Shaver went missing in November 2015, and his remains were uncovered in 2018 under a concrete slab in the backyard of their Clermont home.

After the verdict was read, prosecutors called the decision a step toward justice for Michael Shaver’s family.

"Obviously, they have gone through a very long, arduous road in order to get to this day,” said Nick Camuccio, state attorney for the 5th Judicial Circuit. “But I'm just happy that we were able to take the evidence that was presented to us from law enforcement, present it to the jury, and that they came back with the right decision to try to start giving this family closure."

Laurie Shaver’s defense attorney voiced frustrations about what he called limitations placed on him by the court when it came to events prior to Michael Shaver’s death.

"So, there's a lot of issues that were preserved for appellate reasons. And I believe that prejudiced this jury, created, I think, just a disparaging scene for Miss Shaver,” said defense attorney Jeffrey Wiggs.

The attorney said he plans to appeal the decision.

Laurie Shaver took the stand Thursday, saying that one of her children, as well as her then-boyfriend, shot Michael Shaver following a physical altercation between Laurie and Michael.

On Friday, jurors heard from a neighbor, personal trainer and Laurie’s friend. The neighbor spoke out about a domestic violence incident where she took photos of a gash in Michael Shaver’s head, a wound the neighbor said Michael told her Laurie gave to him.

Jurors also heard from a friend who visited Laurie after Michael allegedly left back in 2016. When she came to the house, she says she saw all of Michael’s belongings, like his phone, clothes and car still at the house, something she says was odd if he left Laurie in the dust.

Friday’s testimony comes just a day after Laurie Shaver took the stand and detailed alleged physical and emotional abuse. On Thursday, Shaver’s then 7-year-old child testified she shot Michael while he was beating Laurie.

Shaver is tentatively scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 25.