An Oklahoma woman was convicted last week for her role in the murder of her ex-husband in 2012.
Amber Andrews, 35, of Meeker, was convicted of first degree murder with deliberate intent, conspiracy to commit a felony and desecration of a human corpse in the death of Brandon Duran of San Diego, California.
Prosecutors say Duran had sole custody of the couple's children, and that became the motive for his murder. Andrews was accused of conspiring with her boyfriend, Justin Hammer, to kill Duran.
Hammer became a suspect in the murder after an employee told authorities that Hammer had asked him to help dispose of "bloody buckets."
In 2014, Hammer was convicted of murder after admitting to shooting Duran near Elmore City, dismembering his body, and disposing of it in cement-filled buckets. However, he insisted that he killed Duran in self-defense after Duran, a "violent member of an outlaw biker gang" kicked in his back door and threatened him. He said that his then-girlfriend, Amber Andrews, had nothing to do with the killing.
However, prosecutors say that Andrews helped Hammer plot her ex-husband's murder. They entered evidence showing that the woman was a part of the conspiracy, including a supply list written by the woman and purchased by Hammer to commit the murder and disposal of the corpse, and phone records and witness testimony tracing Andrews's path of travel on the day of the murder.
Prosecutors say Andrews called Duran under the guise of reconciliation, luring him to Hammer and to his death.
On Thursday, a Garvin County jury found Amber Andrews guilty of conspiracy, murder, and desecration of a corpse. They recommended the maximum sentence: life in prison without parole plus 17 years.
Garvin County District Judge Leah J. Edwards has scheduled formal sentencing for June 12.
Justin Hammer is serving life without parole in the Lawton Correctional Facility in Lawton, Oklahoma.
