SAN DIEGO — Jurors handed down a guilty verdict Tuesday to a woman accused of poisoning her Marine husband with arsenic to obtain $250,000 in veteran's benefits and pay for breast implant surgery.

Cynthia Sommer, a 33-year-old mother of four, faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole for the 2002 poisoning murder of her husband, Sgt. Todd Sommer.

"I'm so glad that Todd Sommer's family has justice finally for the death of their son," said Deputy District Attorney Laura Gunn.

Defense attorney Robert Udell said he was "absolutely stunned" by the verdict.

"[Sommer] is obviously, clearly disappointed," Udell said. "She said to me, 'What am I going to do now?'"

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The panel of seven women and five men deliberated for about 12 hours over three days before finding Sommer guilty of first-degree murder and the special allegations of administering poison and murder for the purpose of financial gain.

Sommer sat quietly, holding the hand of a female defense investigator as she waited for the verdict. She showed no emotion when the guilty verdicts were read. After the jury was excused, she put her hand to her forehead and slowly shook her head — but did not cry.

She will be sentenced on March 23.

Sommer's family and friends held hands across their laps in the back row of the courtroom. Her teenage daughter and her mother sobbed quietly as the verdict was read, and left quickly.

"I'm deeply disappointed," defense attorney Udell said. "I don't believe Cyndi killed Todd. I never did."

Todd Sommer, a healthy young Marine, died suddenly on Feb. 18, 2002, in the home he shared with his wife, their infant son, and Cynthia Sommer's three children from a previous marriage.

His unexpected death was initially ruled cardiac arrhythmia with unknown etiology. His wife donated his tissues and organs to research and his body was cremated.

But more than a year later, scientists found elevated levels of arsenic in Todd Sommer's tissues: more than 1,000 times the normal level in his liver and 230 times the acceptable level in his kidneys.

Cynthia Sommer was arrested and charged with his murder in November 2005.