Wife Sentenced to Life in Husband’s Murder

Laurie Cone in her booking photo from last year

SAN BERNARDINO – A woman convicted in the killing of her estranged husband received a life sentence in state prison on Tuesday, but two other defendants’ fates will be determined later.

Laurie Jean Cone, 47, accused and convicted of killing her husband, John “Jack” Cone last year, had been found guilty by a jury after a four-day trial last month. Jack Cone, 64, was killed at his North Sierra Way home on April 2, 2012, an early morning killing that was arranged by his estranged wife.

John Joseph "Jack" Cone owned and ran this one time TV repair shop, where he also dealt in guns

Gary Michael Gallion, who did the killing, will be sentenced on April 30 while a third defendant, co-conspirator Shawna Marie Bayless, is scheduled for a sentencing next month. Both Gallion and Laurie Cone were found guilty of first degree murder, second degree murder and first degree residential burglary. Gallion is facing the same sentence as Laurie Cone. Superior Court Judge Michael Smith presided over the trial and sentencing.

During the trial, prosecutors related additional plans to kill Jack Cone, a local TV repairman who was killed in his home, which also served as his repair shop. Prosecutors also charged Laurie Cone with conspiring with Charles Duke and Nathan Diaz to kill her husband. She was found guilty on those charges as well.

Gary Gallion's alibi was that he was stealing TV's from somewhere else at the time.

Jack Cone was found beaten to death. During the investigation, police discovered that the victim’s truck, along with several guns and ammunition were taken from his residence.
Investigators uncovered a conspiracy in which Laurie Cone talked Gallion into committing the crime while she gambled at the San Manuel Casino in nearby Highland. Further investigation showed that along with Gallion, 29, Shawna Bayless, 39, also participated in the murder. They were in custody on unrelated charges prior to being arrested on charges related to the murder. Both defendants had testified that they had not met until after their arrest. Laurie Cone had testified that her husband Jack Cone “was her best friend.”

Laurie Cone’s motive, according to prosecutors, was that she wanted her husband dead and also wanted his property. Early reports of the death were that Laurie Cone returned home from gambling at the casino and was surprised to discover the body of her husband.

Part of the evidence presented included videotape of Jack Cone’s property, which showed two views of a man that looked similar to Gallion breaking into the home and loading guns and televisions into a truck. Gallion, who claimed he was stealing televisions at hotels on Hospitality Blvd. in San Bernardino during the time of the murder, testified that he was not that man seen in the video.

Shawna Bayeless is also charged in the killing

Bayless has previously been convicted of assault with a deadly weapon-not a firearm, possession of a controlled substance and forgery, according to court records. Courts records also show Gallion has a 2010 conviction for arson and a 2009 conviction for obstruction and resisting arrest.

The Cones, who started suffering from marital problems in 2007, had been married for 29 years prior to the murder.

Read More:

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