TALLAHASSEE, Florida — A South Florida matriarch was convicted Thursday of orchestrating the 2014 murder-for-hire slaying of her former son-in-law. The victim, a Florida State University law professor, was locked in a contentious custody battle with her daughter, the Associated Press reported .

Jurors found her guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy and solicitation, igniting courtroom tension as the verdict was read, according to AP.

The defendant, 75-year-old Donna Adelson, burst into tears and gasped “Oh my God!” at the announcement of the verdict, prompting a judge to temporarily remove the jury and order her to regain composure before proceedings continued, AP said.

Prosecutors said Adelson was driven by a desire to resolve her daughter’s denied request to relocate her childre

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