Miss. Woman Vanished Before Her Body Was Found in River: How Authorities Found Out How She Got There By Christine Pelisek

A Mississippi man has been found guilty of killing his wife and setting her car on fire.

Michael Owens was convicted on Monday, Sept. 8, of first-degree murder and third-degree arson in connection with the 2023 death of 36-year-old Ebony Owens, WLBT reported.

During his trial, Owens testified he fatally shot the mother of four after he allegedly found her in bed with another man, per WLBT.

“When I entered into my room, I opened the door and turned the light on,” Owens testified, WJTV reported. “I seen another dude in my house, where was he… He was in the bed with my wife. Both of them were naked. So, when I seen that, it just did something to me.”

He claimed he killed her in self-defense when she tried to pick up her gun, according to WLBT.

Hinds County Judge Faye Peterson described the case as “troubling.”

“Very seldom does a case trouble this particular judge,” Peterson said prior to sentencing, per WAPT. “And yet, as I listened to the testimony in this case, the one word that went through my mind was selfish.”

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Ebony’s family reported her missing on March 15, 2023, after she failed to show up for work. The following day, her white Acura TLX was found burning along Old Highway 80 and Jones Road. The license plate was found in the woods nearby.

She was eventually found on March 25 in the Big Black River.

Investigators found rifles and magazines as well as a bloody blanket and clothing at their home, according to WJTV.

Owens was sentenced to life in prison for the murder and three years for the arson charge, according to WJTV.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.