<p>A former Oglethorpe County sheriff's deputy has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murdering her boyfriend and encasing his body in concrete.</p><p>An Effingham County jury found 37-year-old Tracy Lea Fortson of Winterville guilty Thursday of felony murder, aggravated assault and attempted arson in the June 2000 death of Doug Benton at his home. She was acquitted of one assault charge, said District Attorney Bob Lavender.</p><p>Madison County Superior Court Judge Lindsay Tise Jr. sentenced Fortson to life in prison on the murder and aggravated assault charge, plus 10 years for attempted arson.</p><p>Investigators said Fortson shot Benton with a .22-caliber rifle as he laid on the couch and stabbed him repeatedly. They said she then wrapped his body in two plastic shower curtains and dropped it into a trough, filling it with concrete.</p><p>She also unsuccessfully attempted to burn the house, possibly to destroy evidence, investigators said.</p><p>Prosecutors said Fortson may have killed Benton because he had said he wanted to break up with her.</p><p>"She had an attitude," Lavender told the jury during final arguments Thursday. "She was not going to take rejection from Mr. Benton."</p><p>Fortson was previously convicted in the case in July 2001, but the Georgia Supreme Court overturned the verdict last October on a technicality. The panel ruled that she was denied effective counsel when her lawyer used a peremptory strike on a juror who had already been excused for cause by the judge.</p><p>Carol Benton said Thursday that it was difficult to relive her son's death in a second trial.</p><p>"I think the defense attorney did a better job this time, but all the evidence was still the same and it was obvious that she is guilty."</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x28665e8)</p>
