New Jersey prosecutor Christie Becacqua says the jury that Port Saint Lucie mom Michelle Lodzinski wasn't a mom, but only cared for herself, "A mother's instinct is to protect her child. a killer's instinct is to lie."
Wednesday that jury found her guilty of first degree murder in the killing of her 5 year old son.
The verdict comes almost 25 years after little Timothy Wiltsey disappeared. In court, Lodzinski's attorney said she was a good mother, "Lodzinski is not the monster they want to paint her as."
Timothy disappeared in May 1991. Lodzinski says she took him to a carnival in New Jersey, later claiming someone there had abducted him.
The boy's disappearance made local, even national headlines. Volunteers joined police searching the carnival property for the boy. His grandmother made a plea for his safe return, "We want to find who did this to my grandson."
The little boy's body was found a year later in a creek. The case went cold. Lodzinski eventually moved from New Jersey to Port Saint Lucie. But investigators say a blanket found near the boy's body helped re-open the case.
After today's guilty verdict, Lodzinski brother Michael Lodzinski spoke out, "What was done today was right, and now we have justice and we've never forgotten him."
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 23. She faces 30 years to life in prison.
#BREAKING: Michelle Lodzinski convicted in murder of son 25 years ago. https://t.co/A09uWfeEAw #lodzinskitrial pic.twitter.com/aCWG3ngSsK
— NJ.com (@njdotcom) May 18, 2016