Brett Seacat Trial: Ex-Kansas cop found guilty of murdering wife

(CBS/AP) KINGMAN, Kan. - Brett Seacat, a former Kansas lawman, has been found guilty of murder in his wife's April 2011 death.

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Seacat was accused of killing 34-year-old Vashti Seacat 16 days after she filed for divorce. Her charred body was found next to a melted gas container on the remains of her bed, along with a .44-caliber pistol.

A Kingman County jury on Tuesday found the 37-year-old guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated arson and two counts of aggravated endangering a child. CBS affiliate KWCH reports the jury returned a verdict after about six hours of deliberations.

Seacat is a former Sedgwick County sheriff's deputy who was an instructor at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center when his wife's body was found. He and the couple's two sons, ages 2 and 4, escaped from the fire.

Prosecutors allege Seacat shot his wife, then set their home on fire to cover it up.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 5.

Complete coverage of Brett Seacat's trial on Crimesider