A man has been found not guilty in the 2017 murder of his wife in Halifax County. On Tuesday, a jury found Russell Layne not guilty for the murder of his wife Emma Layne and all charges were dismissed.

The jury reached the verdict after about three hours of deliberation. 52-year-old Emma Layne was last seen on June 17, 2017 at Cody convenience store. Her body was found by hunters near her home on Sandy Ridge Road on November 22, 2017.

Russell Layne was arrested on November 27, 2024. During the trial he admitted to domestic abuse in his relationship with Emma Layne, but denied killing her.

The verdict was reached after the trial began eight days ago.