Man found guilty of stabbing wife says he was attempting exorcism

CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Florida man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 1998 stabbing death of his wife.

Bobby McGee, 60, was sentenced to life in prison Friday for fatally stabbing his wife, Helene Ball, 19 times.

McGee's defense team said McGee was attempting an exorcism to cast out demons inside her and he never tried to kill his wife.

In 1998, McGee wrote in his diary that he thought Ball was possessed by the devil. His defense team said he thought an exorcism would help save his marriage.

McGee's lawyers, Jane Matheny and John Swisher, said McGee received psychiatric treatment while in custody for much of the last two decades. They maintain their client was insane at the time of the killing.

WFTV