Novi Man Convicted Of Killing Elderly Neighbor For Cash, Jewelry To Buy Drugs
NOVI (WWJ/AP) - A Novi man has been found guilty of killing his 84-year-old neighbor.
The Detroit Free Press says an Oakland County jury deliberated for a little more than an hour Friday before returning its verdict against Peter Gerard Jones.
The 47-year-old faces mandatory life in prison after being convicted of first-degree felony murder and first-degree murder in the death of Bernice Schaufele.
Schaufele's body was found Jan. 13 in her home in the 20900 block of West Glen Haven Circle at the Country Place condo complex, located near 8 Mile and Meadowbrook roads, about 20 miles northwest of Detroit.
Schaufele's daughter had come to check on her after she failed to show up for a doctor's appointment.
Authorities say Jones killed Schaufele and then stole money and jewelry to buy crack cocaine.
The Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office said Schaufele died of near strangling and a stab wound to the neck.
Jones, who lived two doors down from Schaufele, was out on parole at the time of the killing for another violent crime. He pleaded no contest to manslaughter after authorities say he fatally stabbed a Detroit man in 1997.
MORE: Paroled Killer Charged With Murdering Elderly Novi Woman
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