Man convicted of murder

Associated Press

WAYNESBURG, Pa.

A southwestern Pennsylvania jury has convicted a man of first-degree murder in the death of his estranged wife two years ago.

The (Washington) Observer-Reporter says the Greene County panel deliberated for about 21/2 hours Wednesday before reaching a verdict in the case of 39-year-old Scott Baker of Nemacolin. He also was convicted of intimidation of a witness, fabricating or tampering with evidence and criminal solicitation to commit homicide.

Authorities said he strangled and cut the throat of 30-year-old Melissa Baker at her mobile home in Crucible in November 2009.

Baker faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison. He showed no emotion when the verdicts were read. The victim’s father, Michael Spudich, said “God is good” as he left the courtroom. Defense attorney Harry Cancelmi declined to comment.