BATH — An Elmira man has been found guilty of murder charges in the death of Kelley Stage Clayton last year in a murder for hire plot.
WENY-TV is reporting that a jury found Michael Beard guilty on 1 count of first degree murder and two counts of 2nd degree murder. The jury resumed deliberations late Friday morning, and asked to hear the testimony regarding D-N-A evidence again, along with the definition of the charges Michael Beard faced.
The prosecution alleged that Kelley’s husband, Thomas Clayton, a former professional hockey player, hired Beard to kill Kelley and burn the house down. Beard’s defense was that he was hired to burn down the house, but that someone else killed Kelley.
