Chapter 16 - The Verdict of Justice
After ten exhausting days of testimony—featuring forensic experts,
telemetry engineers,
FBI financial investigators,
and the shocking cellblock tape confession—the trial of the People versus Mason and Eleanor Vance came to a close.
The jury deliberated for a record-breaking two hours and fifteen minutes before sending word to Judge Jenkins that they had reached a unanimous verdict on all counts.
The courtroom was packed to the absolute limit as the bailiffs brought Mason and Eleanor back into the room to hear their fate.
Mason looked completely broken,
his eyes wild,
his skin a ghastly shade of yellow-grey,
clutching the edge of the defense table so hard his knuckles were white.
"Will the defendants please stand and face the jury,
"
Judge Jenkins ordered.
Mason and Eleanor stood up slowly,
their chains rattling loudly in the silent room.
The jury foreperson,
a stern-looking woman in her fifties,
stood up and held the official verdict sheets.
"In the matter of the People versus Mason Vance,
"
the foreperson read,
her voice ringing with absolute authority through the gallery.
"On Count One,
Attempted Premeditated First-Degree Murder,
we find the defendant.
.
.
GUILTY.
"
A sharp gasp went through the gallery,
followed by a wave of emotional sighs.
"On Count Two,
Conspiracy to Commit Murder,
we find the defendant.
.
.
GUILTY.
"
"On Count Three,
Felony Child Endangerment and Depraved Indifference,
we find the defendant.
.
.
GUILTY.
"
"On Count Four,
Grand Larceny and Financial Fraud,
we find the defendant.
.
.
GUILTY.
"
The foreperson then turned to the second sheet.
"In the matter of the People versus Eleanor Vance,
"
the foreperson continued.
"On Count One,
Complicity to Attempted Premeditated Murder,
we find the defendant.
.
.
GUILTY.
"
"On Count Two,
Obstruction of Justice and Financial Fraud,
we find the defendant.
.
.
GUILTY.
"
Eleanor collapsed backward into her chair,
letting out a piercing,
hysterical scream of denial as her defense lawyer tried in vain to comfort her.
Mason stood frozen,
staring at the jury foreperson as if he couldn't comprehend that his wealth,
his charm,
and his mother's manipulation had failed to save him from the iron grip of the law.
Judge Jenkins struck her gavel down with thunderous force.
"The verdicts will be recorded as read,
"
Judge Jenkins announced,
her eyes glaring down at Mason with absolute judgment.
"Mason Vance,
for your monstrous,
depraved actions against your own wife and innocent child,
I sentence you to LIFE IN PRISON without the possibility of parole,
to be served consecutively with federal sentences pending in Illinois and Florida.
"
"You will spend the remainder of your natural life in a maximum-security facility.
"
"Eleanor Vance,
for your vile participation in these horrific crimes,
I sentence you to THIRTY YEARS in the state penitentiary.
"
"Remand the prisoners into custody immediately!"
The bailiffs moved in instantly,
grabbing Mason by his arms and slapping heavy restraint belts over his waist.
As Mason was roughly turned toward the back exit doors,
he looked directly at me one last time.
Tears were streaming down his sunken face,
his lips trembling,
begging silently for a mercy he had denied his nine-day-old daughter six months ago.
I didn't look away.
May you like
I looked him straight in the eye with cold,
unyielding strength until the steel doors slammed shut behind him forever.
