BUFORD, Ga. -- She was a former exotic dancer that he taught how to fire a weapon. Now, a jury has found her guilty in the 2015 murder of her husband.
Liubov Volkova will be sentenced later this month.
Jordan Whitson, 38, died from a gunshot wound in his right cheek. Police originally thought his death was a suicide.
On Nov. 1, 2015, paramedics went to a Hampton Park Drive home in Buford around 1:30 a.m. after Volkova called 911 saying her just shot himself in the cheek.
"The victim was dead when EMT/firefighters responded; he was at the bottom of a stair case leading from the first floor of the house to the second floor," the evidence summary from the trial reads.
The police officer wrote in his report that Whitson "was lying on the landing of the stairs with his head on the stairs. I could see a gunshot wound on the right side of his face."
These details were also included in the evidence summary presented in court, "The victim in this case was an avid gun owner. He had several different weapons and was proficient in them and gun safety. The Defendant, a former exotic dancer, and the victim had been married close to seven years. During this time, he had taught her how to fire weapons."
Dr. Carol Terry, the Gwinnett County Medical Examiner, ruled the death as a homicide. She noted the lack of any gunpowder or burning around the wound on the victim and the lack of the presence of any stippling on the victim.
She also noted the location of the gunshot wound and the length of the victim's arm, saying the it occurred at a downward angle and was of indeterminate or distant range. Other experts said the same.
BI also tested the victims shirt to see if there was any presence of gunpowder and couldn't find any.
The trial started on July 23 and lasted until Friday, August 3, 2018. Volkova was found guilty of malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault.
