NW Ind. man convicted of wife’s beating death

CROWN POINT, Ind. — A jury has convicted a northwestern Indiana man in the beating death of his wife of 41 years.

The Lake County jury deliberated for about an hour Thursday before returning the verdict against 63-year-old Douglas Thompson. The Times of Munster reports prosecutors maintained that 62-year-old Beverly Thompson died in April 2010 inside their Dyer home after being hit in the back of the head at least 10 times.

Investigators had said Thompson lost more than $62,000 at a Gary casino in the month before his wife’s death, but prosecutors didn’t specify a motive for the attack.

Thompson faces a prison term of 45 years to 65 years at his sentencing scheduled for Dec. 1.