Jury reaches verdict in Jeffrey Pyne murder trial

Highland Township man charged with killing mother in 2011

Pynes story that he had nothing to do with his mothers murder is facing a serious challenge.

DETROIT – The fate of Jeffrey Pyne, the Highland Township man charged with murdering his mother, will be revealed in court on Tuesday.

Ruth Pyne was found beaten and stabbed to death May 27, 2011, in the garage of the family's home in Highland Township.

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Her son, a 21-year-old former Christian High School valedictorian and University of Michigan biology student, is charged with her death.

Pyne was initially charged with first-degree murder, but the judge agreeded to allow for a lesser charge of second-degree to be considered if the jury cannot convict on first-degree. 

Pyne has maintained his innocence.

Mother was bi-polar, a schizophrenic

--Ruth Pyne

Nine months before Ruth was killed she was jailed for attempting to strangle Jeffery. She had been committed to a mental hospital.

The prosecution argued that Jeffrey Pyne was upset with his mother and killed her in a fit of rage.

But the defense argued that there is no evidence linking Jeffrey to the crime.

Previous story: Man faces life in prison if convicted of mother's murder

Pyne's father, Bernie, had been in the courtroom during the trial. He told Local 4 he found it difficult to sit and listen.

"I know my son and he would never hurt his mother.  He would never harm her," he said.