A Hampton man will spend the rest of his life in prison for murdering his wife.

A Henry County jury needed only about 30 minutes of deliberation August 12 before finding 51-year-old Joseph Andrew Felton Jr. guilty of malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault. He was then sentenced by Henry County Superior Court Judge Holly Veal to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

According to a statement released by the Henry County District Attorney’s Office, the jury found that Sheray Felton, 39, was killed by her husband in March of 2014 after he struck her and stabbed her repeatedly, causing multiple blunt force and sharp force injuries to her head and torso. Felton then fled to Chicago, where authorities apprehended him March 16, 2014. He was arrested after a police chase and an hours-long standoff with police.

The victim was found inside the couple’s Hampton home by officers along with family members, who called police after she failed to return multiple phone calls and did not show up at the airport to pick them up.

“We are pleased that the defendant has been held accountable for his brutal act of domestic violence against Sheray Felton,” said District Attorney Darius Pattillo. “We hope that this verdict gives Ms. Felton’s family some sense of relief and closure as they grieve and continue to heal.”

The case was prosecuted by chief assistant district attorney Deborah Venuto, assistant district attorney Brittany Forester, and the Homicide and Gang Unit.