Florida mother accused of killing her husband and burying his body under a concrete slab cries in court as she learns her fate

A Florida woman accused of killing her husband and burying his body under a backyard fire pit has been convicted of first-degree murder.

Laurie Shaver sobbed as the jury returned a guilty verdict Friday in the 2015 murder of her husband Michael Shaver, WFTV reported.

The six jurors deliberated for only five and a half hours before convicting the mother after a week-long trial.

According to prosecutors, Laurie killed her husband in November 2015 by shooting him in the back of the head in their home in Claremont, west of Orlando.

Michael's body was not discovered until 2018, when officials were called to conduct a wellness check on the missing Walt Disney World employee. His remains were buried under a fire pit.

Michael's body was not discovered until 2018 when officials were called for a health check and his remains were buried under a fire pit (pictured).

Laurie maintained her innocence throughout the trial, claiming that her then seven-year-old daughter shot her father while Michael beat her.

She also claimed that her ex-boyfriend, Jeremy Townsend, shot Michael a second time and disposed of his body. However, physical evidence suggests that Michael was only shot once, WESH reported.

Officials also said Laurie assumed Michael's identity after his death and sent text messages and Facebook messages in his persona.

Laurie's daughter, now 15, testified in her mother's defense on Thursday, claiming she shot her father to protect her mother.

Laurie maintained her innocence throughout the trial and claimed that her then seven-year-old daughter had shot her father

She also claimed that her ex-boyfriend Jeremy Townsend shot Michael (pictured) a second time, even though there is evidence that he was only shot once.

“And I grabbed her and took her gun. And I went back out and to the door. The door was already open. And he still had my mother on the ground. Still lying on the ground. Still kicking her. And I shot him,” the daughter said.

Townsend testified to the prosecution that he had never met Michael.

Michael's family cried tears of joy when the verdict was handed down nearly a decade after his murder.

“Elation. Elation,” his sister Stacie Turner told local news outlets. “We were very happy. This has been a long time coming.”

Michael was a Disney World employee, and officials claimed Laurie posed as him after his death, sending text messages and Facebook messages in his name.

“I don't think there was a detective in the sheriff's office between 2018 and 2020 who wasn't involved in this case,” said District Attorney Nick Camuccio. “And all of the CSI people who were involved in this case really did a first-class job.”

Laurie faces a minimum of 25 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 25.

Their defense attorney said they plan to appeal the verdict.