Convention organizer and comic book retailer Michael George was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole in the cold case murder of his wife, which occurred in 1990. According to the Macomb Daily a hearing concerning the possibility of a new trial will be held on August 8th, and until that time George will be held in the
Five people spoke at the sentencing hearing including George who passionately proclaimed his innocence, and his two daughters, both of whom supported their father. George who, echoing the Fugitive TV series, blames an unknown assailant in a Greek fisherman's cap for the crime, addressed the "killer" directly, saying, "I will be going to prison for the rest of my life for your crime." The victim’s brother and sister both spoke and blamed George for the murder, while the District Attorney sarcastically noted that in contrast to his impassioned plea at the sentencing hearing, George had not displayed any emotion during the investigation or when he learned of his wife’s death.
With no witnesses, physical evidence, or confession (see “Greed, Sex, and Power”), the prosecutors basically convicted George on motive (a $130,000 insurance police), opportunity (by casting doubt on alibi), and his behavior after his wife’s death (he reportedly hit on a woman at his wife’s funeral). This sensational cold case trial gained nationwide attention as the result of a feature on NBC's Dateline.
