Every day during the three-week murder trial, Michael George left his mother's house for court. He was free on bond.

But for how long?

Monday, March 17, 2008 happened to be the 16th wedding anniversary of Michael and his second wife, Renee.

Would it be champagne or handcuffs when the jury came back?

In the courthouse, the day dragged on. The jury has deliberated late into the afternoon.

Edward Cardenas: The feeling was the longer that the jury went that it was looking more and more that it was going to be not guilty.

Edward Cardenas of the Detroit News thought it came down to which story the jury believed.

Edward Cardenas: The jury was to consider whether Michael George was lying in wait or lying on his mother's couch.

About 5 p.m., the jurors sent word to the judge. They had reached a decision.

Dennis Murphy, Dateline NBC: Do you ever get used to that moment?

Carl Marlinga, defense attorney: No.

Dennis Murphy: "We got a verdict -- coming in"?

Carl Marlinga: No. No. your heart pounds so hard that it vibrates your shirt.

Steve Kaplan: You don't know. You don't know. You give it your best effort.

Before the jury walked in, the judge warned the courtroom against any outbursts.

Michael George prayed quietly to himself.

His freedom, his family, the life he'd enjoyed in Pennsylvania were at risk forever. A murder conviction meant mandatory life. No possibility of parole.

The jury of eight-women and four men filed in.

Madette, juror: My hands were sweating. And I took a look at Michael George and I saw his family. I was numb and scared at the same time.

Joe Kowynia: My brother turns to me, he says, "Is your heart beating fast?" And I said, "Yeah, it is." I mean, this is it.

The foreman read the verdict.

Foreman: Count number one, first-degree murder. We find the defendant guilty.

Guilty of first-degree murder, Michael George slumped and sobbed in his attorney's arms.

Barb's sister and two brothers seemed to share a gasp of relief.

Joe Kowynia: He took away my oldest sister. She didn't get to see me get married. She didn't get to see my son being born. She will never get to see him do anything. I mean he took a part of me away.

Across the room, the convicted man's younger daughter -- one of the two nieces estranged from Barb's family -- collapsed into her stepmother Renee.

Michael George would go on weeping for a full two-minutes.

Edward Cardenas: I’ve never seen a defendant break down like that.

But Lt. Craig Keith, the cold case detective who rediscovered the crucial evidence, was unmoved by George’s tears.

Craig Keith: Mike showed no emotion back in 1990. And now he cries. And, my impression of that is Mike is crying for himself.

Steve Kaplan, prosecutor: They're crocodile tears. He's crying because he knows his freedom has ended.

Carl Marlinga: It was devastating. It was just devastating.

Barely able to stand, George was helped to the podium to face the judge, the same judge who had apparently been a heartbeat away from dismissing the case altogether.

Judge: The jury has found you guilty of all charges. At this time, I’m remanding you to the custody of the Macomb County Sheriff's Department."

The comic book man was now a convict. His hands were cuffed and deputies led him away.

Madette: I had no doubt that the verdict that we came to was the correct one.

The jurors had returned to their deliberation room. They said they could hear George sobbing but that didn't shake their confidence in their verdict. They said it had come down to the testimony of the man in the wheelchair.

Dennis Murphy: I think I hear you all saying he was tripped up by answering that phone call from Michael Renaud.

Jurors: Yes.

Kay Daniels: He should not have been there when Mike Renaud called.

Dennis Murphy: Absent that, where were you?

Sandra: I would still be in that room.

Carl Marlinga, defense attorney: I think that the jury got it wrong. I believe that we have a strong shot with this judge to be able to get an outright reversal or a new trial.

For now, anyway, the cold case unit of Kaplan and prosecutor Eric Smith has won another conviction. Their undefeated streak continues, 21 for 21.

And Smith notched one for his dad, the late police chief.

When the verdict came down, he got the word via text-message from a reporter.

Eric Smith: There was some hooting and hollering going on over here when we got that. I really thought he's finally going to face the just punishment he deserves. My next thoughts went right to my old man. And I thought I wish he was here to share this with. But I know he's smiling.

For Barb's family, it's grim satisfaction more than smiles.

Joe Kowynia: It's finally over after all these years. My sister had her vindication, she can rest now. I thought I was going to be happier in the verdict. But with my niece there, then I wasn't as happy at the time. But you know, as each day goes on, you know, I feel better about it, and I’m glad. I mean, he needs to pay for his crime.

But is the case of the comic book murder really at "the end”? Or will there be a criminal courts sequel? The defense has asked the judge who seemed so torn by the slim evidence in the case to set aside the jury's verdict, or order a new trial. Judge Biernat will hear oral arguments this Thursday, then consider his options: the historic and controversial ones -- override the jury or grant a new trial -- or the more traditional one -- let an appellate court make the decision.

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