CANTON, Ohio — A jury found Sean Goe guilty of murder, felonious assault, gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence in the death of his girlfriend, 24-year-old Raychel Sheridan.
Watch the judge read the verdict, which was followed by an outburst by Goe's mother in the courtroom.
The trial began four days ago. You can find coverage in the Akron Beacon Journal here. The jury started deliberating just after noon following closing arguments from the prosecution and the defense.
He will be sentenced on Nov. 18.
Criminal Division Chief Prosecutor Dennis Barr told the jury that Goe beat Sheridan to death with some sort of an object while she laid in bed.
"The only person that had a reason to dump Raychel's body like a piece of trash in that dumpster in Mother Goose Land is the person who killed her," Barr said. "That person is Sean Goe, the person who is sitting right here."
But defense attorney Tony Wise argued Goe "did not commit any of the violent acts that he is accused of here today." He also believes there was an assumption by investigators that Goe was the killer.
"Everybody, I mean everybody, jumped to the conclusion it must be the boyfriend," Wise said. "Possible is not the burden of proof. It's beyond a reasonable doubt. Possible does not cut it."
It took the jury less than an hour to decide it was Goe who killed Sheridan.
Reaction in the courtroom
Unlike his mother, Goe had little reaction as the judge announced guilty verdicts on five charges, two of which were for murder.
Sheridan's family said they found a sense of relief and justice after an emotional trial.
"She was my baby girl, and I was hoping for this type of verdict," said Lisa Sheridan, Raychel's mother. "I don't understand how you could do something like that to somebody that you supposedly loved."
Jonathan Gillian, Sheridan's brother, shared the loss he felt for his sister.
"No amount of time spent for a person to live is going to be able to make up for the life they took away," he said. "There's no wrapping your head around it. The more you think about it, the further down you go as well."
The victim's family told News 5 they don't know why Goe took away someone so special to them, but Lisa Sheridan felt Raychel was with her as the verdicts were read.
"It's been rough. And I love her and I miss her," Lisa said.
What happened?
In early July, Sheridan didn't show up for work. Her worried mother contacted the Stark County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators determined there were signs of a crime scene inside her Plain Township apartment.
"Evidence of foul play was discovered. Detectives determined that Sheridan was murdered inside the apartment," Sheriff George Maier said during a July news conference.
However, she wasn't there. Sanitation workers later found her body in a garbage can in Mother Goose Land Park in Canton.
RELATED: Missing woman's body found by Canton sanitation workers
Detectives alleged that Goe beat Sheridan to death and then hid her remains. He was arrested at a homeless shelter.
