Jury finds Christopher Lee guilty of first-degree murder

Update (11/29/16)

Christopher Brandon Lee has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering Erin Corwin.

Lee gave a brief statement about the story behind his confession: “It was self serving but it was not a lie. I cannot forgive myself.”

(11/3/16)

For two years, Lore Heavilin dealt with pain of her daughter, Erin Corwin’s, death, after her body was found at the bottom of a mineshaft near Twentynine Palms.

Thursday, Heavilin along with other family members saw her daughter’s ex-lover, Christopher Lee, found guilty of her murder. “I feel like justice was done for my daughter,” Heavilin said. “She was taken away from us in a cruel manner.” The verdict came after going weeks of testimony, including Lee’s shocking confession on the witness stand. Heavilin said she was surprised that Lee confessed to murdering her daughter. “I just, you know, from all of the TV shows you watch, that’s not necessarily the wisest thing to do,” Heavilin said. With Lee convicted of first-degree murder, Heavilin said there may not be complete closure for her daughter’s death, but she hopes the wound will now begin to heal. “Every time there was a hearing, it was like your emotional scab got ripped off,” Heavilin said. “You kind of would start healing a little bit, and then there would be another healing. I’m looking forward to not having to deal with that on a monthly basis.” Lee’s family members declined to comment on the verdict. Prosecutors said Lee is expected to appear for sentencing in San Bernardino on November 29th, and faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.