Guilty, first-degree murder. For the children of Pamela Vitale, those words marked the end of a yearlong ordeal that will forever define their lives. On Tuesday, they spoke about their mother's murder and the harrowing trial that followed.

Daniel Horowitz was in the midst of defending Susan Polk (pictured), a housewife who admitted stabbing her psychologist husband, Felix, on their $2 million estate. Just three days after opening statements in Polk's murder trial, Horowitz made the horrifying discovery of finding his wife, Pamela Vitale, murdered. A mistrial was declared in the Polk case in light of the circumstances. For her retrial, Polk opted not to hire another lawyer, instead choosing to represent herself.