By Elizabeth Hill
Robert Steven Hatch was found guilty Tuesday, Nov. 4, of murdering his estranged wife Sharee Hatch.
A jury of five women and three men found him guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree aggravated burglary and third-degree domestic violence-battery.
The jury deliberated for over 20 hours before delivering their verdict around 12:30 Tuesday afternoon.
Hatch starred blankly when the verdict was read. His mother clung to her rosary beads and his sisters held hands. Sharee''s family let out a sigh of relief.
'I feel like justice was served for my sister Sharee,' said Sharee''s sister, Andrea Leek through tears. 'She''s looking down and she''s happy. It was the whisper that was heard.'
The comment refers to Prosecuting Attorney Curtis Larson''s plead with the jury during his closing arguments to hear Sharee''s whisper that Hatch was her murderer.
Security did their best to keep both families separate after the trial, shuffling them in to separate elevators.
Snipers were in position on the roof of the courthouse as everyone exited.
Hatch''s sister Dorothy said, 'I loved Sharee too. I hope the jury did the right thing. She was my sister.'
Hatch''s attorney Jack Morgan said his client was disappointed in the verdict but is 'taking it well.' He also said that he and his client would have to discuss whether or not they will appeal.
According to Sharee''s father, Sarge Nelson, he knew all along that Hatch was the murder.
'It didn''t take all that long for me to figure it out,' Nelson said. 'But, then again, I''m the father.'
Hatch made a 300-mile trip from his home in Colorado to Spanish Fork the night of the murder, kicked down Sharee''s door, and shot her twice within close range-once in the face and once in the chest, then fled the scene, while Sharee''s boyfriend, Mike Pino supposedly searched in a nearby closet for a gun.
Hatch was arrested an hour later in Helper, Utah about an hour after Pino called 911.
Hatch was found at a gas station wearing socks but no shoes. One sock had a speck on is that contained Sharee''s DNA.
Police also found the murder weapon and a hunting mask with Hatch''s DNA in a nearby schoolyard.
Hatch will remain in prison until his sentencing on Dec. 23. The maximum sentence Hatch can receive is life in prison and up to $25,000 in fines.