My husband’s family b:ea:t me so viciously that I came close to losing my life. Three days later, my mother-in-law stormed into the hospital, shouting, “I’m her family! You have no right to stop me from seeing her!” / Chapter 8 / 10

Chapter 8 - THE VERDICT AND THE SENTENCEThe jury deliberated for less than three hours—one of the fastest deliberations in the county’s history.

At 4:30 PM on Friday afternoon, the courtroom reassembled for the reading of the verdict. The atmosphere was charged with electrifying tension.

Judge Vance looked down at the jury foreman. "Has the jury reached a unanimous verdict?"

"We have, Your Honor," the foreman, a middle-aged veteran, answered firmly.

"On Count One: Attempted Murder against Diane Montgomery... how do you find?"

"Guilty."

A collective gasp echoed across the room. Diane collapsed onto the table, sobbing hysterically.

"On Count Two: Aggravated Felonious Assault with a Deadly Weapon against Diane Montgomery... Guilty."

"On Count Three: Felony Accomplice to Attempted Murder against Michael Montgomery... Guilty."

"On Count Four: Witness Intimidation and Evidence Tampering against Michael Montgomery... Guilty."

"On Count Five: Identity Theft and Grand Larceny against Michael Montgomery... Guilty."

"On Count Six: Accessory After the Fact to Attempted Murder against Robert Montgomery... Guilty."

Guilty across every single count. Absolute, total conviction.

Two weeks later, the sentencing hearing took place.

Judge Vance sat behind her elevated judicial bench, her expression grim as she looked down at the three defendants standing before her in chains.

"In my twenty-five years on the bench," Judge Vance stated, her voice booming across the silent courtroom, "I have rarely witnessed such a cold, calculated display of domestic cruelty, financial predation, and moral bankruptcy. You treated a kind, hardworking young woman like an animal, exploited her love, and left her to die on a kitchen floor."

Judge Vance picked up her pen and delivered the sentences:

"Diane Montgomery: For attempted murder and aggravated assault, you are sentenced to twenty-two years in the Ohio Department of Corrections without the possibility of parole."

Diane shrieked, her knees buckling as two bailiffs held her upright.

"Michael Montgomery: For felony accomplice to attempted murder, witness intimidation, grand larceny, and identity theft, you are sentenced to eighteen years in state prison, to be served consecutively with your pending federal fraud sentences."

Michael dropped his head, tears streaming down his face, completely crushed.

"Robert Montgomery: For accessory to attempted murder and failure to render aid, you are sentenced to eight years in state prison."

Judge Vance brought her heavy wooden gavel down hard.

BANG!

"Court is adjourned."

As the bailiffs led the three crying, chained Montgomerys away toward the holding cells, Michael turned his head one last time, looking at me with begging, pathetic eyes.