Man Guilty Of Poisoning, Suffocating Wife

Wis. Jury Convicts Man Of Poisoning Wife With Antifreeze; She Left Note Blaming Him

(CBS/AP)  A man was convicted Thursday of poisoning and suffocating his wife, who left behind a letter implicating him should she come to an "early demise."

Mark Jensen, 48, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Julie Jensen, and faces a mandatory life prison sentence, with the judge to determine if he should ever be eligible for parole.

Mark Jensen stared dourly at the jurors as each concurred with the judgment. Bailiffs led him quietly out the side of the courtroom afterward.

Julie Jensen, 40, was found dead in her Pleasant Prairie home on Dec. 3, 1998, after being sick for a few days. Mark Jensen was charged with killing her in 2002, but legal wrangling over evidence repeatedly delayed the trial.

The evidence included a letter she wrote implicating her husband of 14 years should anything happen to her, as well as her statements to police, a neighbor and her son's teacher that she suspected her husband was trying to kill her.

"I pray that I am wrong and nothing happens, but I am suspicious of Mark's suspicious behaviors and fear for my early demise," Julie Jensen wrote in the letter. She told the neighbor to give it to police only if she died.

Julie Jensen's four brothers spoke at a news conference afterward, thanking the jurors, law enforcement agents and witnesses who testified against Mark Jensen.

"The witnesses had to endure hardship and muster a lot of courage to come forward," Michael Griffin said, adding that he hoped the case would give hope to other victims of domestic violence.

Jurors deliberated for about 32 hours over three days before reaching a verdict Thursday.

In closing arguments, attorneys on each side had said there wasn't enough evidence supporting the other's theory about the way Julie Jensen died.

Prosecutor Robert Jambois said Mark Jensen plotted to kill his wife, searching the Internet for information on ethylene glycol — commonly used as antifreeze — and then giving her sleeping pills and making her drink juice spiked with the toxic chemical.

When Julie Jensen's health appeared to improve, her husband pushed her face in a pillow and suffocated her, Jambois claimed.

Defense attorney Craig Albee said the prosecution's case relied on questionable witnesses — jail inmates, a poison expert who made a crucial mistake and witnesses whose memories had faded after nearly a decade. Albee called experts to prove his claim that Julie Jensen was depressed and committed suicide.

During the trial, the defense called the Jensen family doctor, Dr. Richard Borman, who said a crying, distraught Julie Jensen came to his office just two days before she died, reports CBS News affiliate WISC-TV in Madison.

Borman told the jury she told him she was miserable, depressed and thought her marriage was ending.

[bcbbkake]

FYI, I don''t know if it is the same in every state, but here in California a person is eligible for parole after serving half of their sentence (credit for good time), 2/3 if it is federal (their rules are a little more strict). So, a 50-year state sentence is really only 25 years. A person sentenced to life is eligible to apply for parole after serving only 7-1/2 years, unless they were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole (LWOP). Victims, their families, and a few others are allowed to attend parole hearings and testify as to why the prospective parolee should not be released. If not released, they can reapply for parole every few years. Just wanted to clarify for those who don''t know.

[renae2626]

Ummm yeah if I had any kind of idea that someone wanted to kill me I def would not stick around....what was she waiting for why didnt she get he hell out of there?

[lynne_m1]

It''s too bad the state of Wi does not have the death penalty for people like him.

[gunnerv1]

SchoolCrazy NO GUN USED HERE!

[keithle1]

Ain''t love grand?

[nothappyatall]

In the other case the killer is 38, he got 50 years, so 50+38= 88 years old, chances are excellent he won''t live to see even 80, so basically it IS life is jail.

[nothappyatall]

In the other case the killer is 38, he got 50 years, so 50+38= 88 years old, chances are excellent he won''t live to see even 80, so basically it IS life is jail.

[nothappyatall]

This killer gets life, where in another article, a man murders his wife in front of his children, then he dismembers her and he gets 50 years. Dont get it!

Posted by ssm9451

Whats not to ''get''? 50 years ~IS~ life in jail unless the killer is about 10 years old.

[ssm9451]

This killer gets life, where in another article, a man murders his wife in front of his children, then he dismembers her and he gets 50 years. Don''t get it!