Lancaster, Pa. - A Lancaster County nurse accused of giving an 11-year old cerebral palsy patient a fatal dose of morphine has been found guilty.

Joy O'Shea Woomer has been found guilty of third degree murder. She's also found guilty of drug delivery resulting in death and guilty of delivery of a controlled substance.

Woomer cried as the verdict was read, while Weaver's mother repeatedly whispered 'thank you' to the jury.

Woomer, 50, was working in the Weaver home for the first time when the boy died in the early morning of September 27, 2002. Weaver was in a wheelchair and unable to talk or feed himself. His parents had hired a private company to help with his care.

A representative of the Weaver family said they are happy to finally have justice after all this time, but no one could give them real justice.

District Attorney Craig Stedman said, "This case will never work out in the way we'd like and have the real justice which would be to have the son back and the life not taken."

On September 27, 2002, prosecutors say Woomer gave Brent Weaver a lethal dose of morphine and though she may not have had the intent to kill, she acted with malice which resulted in the death of the 11-year-old.

"She said she really wasn't wanting to be there," said prosecutor Chris Miller about the day of Brent Weaver's death. "She didn't want to be there! She wanted to take the money for purposes of working that particular evening. But she didn't want to be there."

"Why would a nurse with an impeccable career who's never committed a crime in her life who's cared for children who were dying of cancer, hospice patients who was going on a one night job, why would she ever commit a crime like this?" asked defense attorney Chris Patterson.

Defense attorneys say Woomer is very sad and unhappy with the verdict, saying she had no reason to kill Brent Weaver. After about six and a half hours of jury deliberation, the prosecution believes the verdict is perfectly accurate in the case of a boy that meant so much to so many people.

"While he never spoke, while he never walked, he was an extraordinary child," Miller said.

Weaver family friend Joell Ketcham said, "We thank the jury for seeing the truth and wanting to honor Brent in living a life."

He was a wonderful child, he would have lived a long life, and she took it away," said Miller.

So far, there is no sentencing date sent for Woomer. She could face up to 55 years behind bars.

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