Gregory Deonte Norwood claimed the mother of his child had stabbed herself 14 times, leading to her death.
But the autopsy findings told a different story, according to investigators. The five children that witnessed the brutal attack on Crystal Powell did, too.
On Friday, a Walton County jury deliberated less than an hour before convicting Norwood of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, family violence and five counts of cruelty to children in the first degree, according to District Attorney Randy McGinley. Judge Layla Zon then sentenced 29-year-old Norwood to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 100 additional years for the April 2022 killing.
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“While this verdict cannot bring Crystal back, I hope it brings some level of closure and a sense of justice to her family and friends,” McGinley said in a statement. “I want to thank all those that came to court in support of Crystal and her family, as well as all those supporting them that couldn’t come. This verdict, after such a heartwrenching trial, is a result of so much hard work by so many. I want to commend the Monroe Police Department for their excellent work as well as all the assisting agencies.”