Austell Woman Found Guilty in Valentine's Day Murder

A jury in Hall County found Lynitra Ross of Austell guilty of malice murder of a Snellville man in 2010. The verdict comes a week after the trial began on May 15.

Ross was accused of serving as a go-between in a Valentine’s Day plot to kill Richard Schoeck.

Prosecutors said Richard Shoeck was shot to death as he waited to exchange Valentine’s Day gifts with his wife after dark in Belton Bridge Park.

Stacey Shoeck, his wife, testified that she hired Ross’ love interest Reginald Coleman, also of Austell, to kill her husband. She gave Ross a house as payment for connecting her with Coleman, the Gainesville Times reported.

Coleman allegedly received $10,000, and will likely face the death penalty.

Stacey Shoeck is expected to enter a guilty plea and because of her testimony in the Ross trial, will not face the death penalty.

Hall County Superior Court Judge Jason Deal will sentence Ross at a later date. Ross faces a life sentence in prison for the malice murder charge and Deal will decide if she will have any opportunity for parole.

Ross' attorney Rodney Williams told the newspaper, "Justice was served."