Boyfriend convicted in 11-year-old homicide case

COOS BAY, Ore. (AP) — A jury in Coos County has found the boyfriend of a slain teenager guilty of manslaughter in her death in 2000.

The Coos Bay World reports that boyfriend, now-29-year-old Nicholas McGuffin, was also found not guilty of murder in Leah Freeman’s death. The girl disappeared on the night of June 28, 2000. Her body was found five weeks later.

Police investigated McGuffin, but no charges were filed until last year, when a grand jury considering new evidence indicted him.

The jury returned the verdict at about 11 a. m. on Tuesday after four hours of deliberation.

McGuffin mouthed “I love you” to his mother and the mother of his children. Freeman’s mother had to be helped from the courtroom after the verdict was announced.

Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 1.

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Information from: The World, http://www.theworldlink.com