ROYSE CITY, Texas — The Rockwall County man who killed his wife inside their home in February 2023 will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Corey Wayne Griffin received a life sentence Monday and was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine, according to the Rockwall County Criminal District Attorney's Office.
The jury took less than 30 minutes to convict Griffin, 60, on the felony first-degree murder in the death of 37-year-old Chelsie Loren Griffin inside their Royse City home.
During the week-long trial, jurors heard testimony and evidence from 25 state witnesses. In court, it was revealed that weeks before Chelsie's death she filed for divorce after being married to Griffin for 17 years. There were also filings for protective orders against Griffin, which were in effect on the day of her murder.
On Feb. 16, Royse City police officers were called to the home in the 2500 block of Perdenales Drive for a welfare check.
"A neighbor’s doorbell camera captured the defendant entering the home he had previously shared with Ms. Griffin and their two children before a court order required him to vacate," the DA's office said in a news release.
Chelsea's brother, Brian Bishop, testified he was on the phone with his sister and described hearing her scream as she entered her home - then the call disconnected.
When officers arrived, they found Chelsie's body lying in the kitchen.
Two hours later, Griffin was arrested in the parking lot of Chandler’s Landing marina. The DA office said he was found asleep with the murder weapon in his lap covered in Chelsie's blood. Authorities said the garage door opener Griffin used to enter the home was still in his hand.
"Through his act of tremendous evil, the defendant sent shockwaves into our community that still reverberate even eighteen months later," said lead prosecutor Kerri New.
Multiple witnesses testified that Chelsie endured years of infidelity and psychological and physical abuse during her relationship with Griffin.
During his court testimony, Griffin admitted to pouring bleach over Chelsie's clothes, ripping the television off the wall, overturning furniture and slashing artwork on the day of the murder.
The Medical Examiner testified that the extensive trauma to Chelsie's body included blunt force trauma to her face and head, strangulation and a gunshot wound behind her right ear.
“This case highlights how dangerous domestic violence abusers can be and how important it is to intervene early before the violence escalates,” said Rockwall County District Attorney Kenda Culpepper.
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