A jury has found a Washago woman guilty in the death of 82-year-old Richard Humble.

Members of the jury found Margaret Lee Cole, 50, guilty of first-degree murder on Thursday in a Barrie courtroom. The decision came down after two days of deliberation.

During the lengthy trial, the court heard that Cole was in debt and “desperate for cash.” Cole became Humble’s caregiver and managed to gain access to his files, and forged his will and power of attorney documents.

She then drugged him with her own anti-anxiety medication, “but when that didn’t work, she set his house on fire,” said Crown attorney Mike Flosman. On April 9, 2011, Humble was pulled from his burning house in Washago by his neighbours and died hours later.

Cole will receive an automatic life sentence in prison. She will be allowed to apply for parole in 25 years, but there is never any guarantee that a person convicted of murder will get parole.

Outside of court family members say they are devastated that someone he trusted could deceive him in such a callous way. They say Humble’s sister, who was the real beneficiary to his will, is still alive but too old to travel from England, has a broken heart after hearing about her brother.

Humble was a marine engineer and worked on the navy ships and traveled the world before coming to Canada to work on the fire boats in Toronto for 22 years.

Cole will be officially sentenced on March 24.