California Man Found Guilty After He Hired Hitmen to Kill His Wife's Podiatrist Following Failed Procedure

An 83-year-old California man has been found guilty of being the mastermind of the 2018 murder of a podiatrist, whom he blamed for his wife's death after a failed procedure.

The suspect was identified as Robert Elmo Lee. He was found guilty of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of murder for financial gain in connection to the murder of Dr. Thomas Shock, according to a People report.

San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar announced the new developments in the case on Thursday through a press release.

Lee's co-defendant, Mallory Stewart, previously pled guilty for his role in the killing.

Shock was shot and killed inside his Lodi home in August 2018.

Salazar said in a release that the end of the case sends a clear message, which is that his office will hold those who harm members of the community accountable to the full extent of the law.

Lee and Stewart are scheduled to go back to court for their sentencing on May 16.

Hitmen Killing Podiatrist

Lee's wife had been treated by Shock for an ingrown toenail back in 2014. Eventually, she had to have part of that foot amputated and then died in 2016 due to an infection.

In 2018, Shock retired and had been disciplined by the medical board in light of Lee's wife's treatment, according to a New York Post report.

Prosecutors argued that Lee had hired several hitmen to kill Shock.

Other people involved in the case were identified as Christopher Costello, 26, as well as Raymond Jacquett IV, 26.

Costello's thumbprint was found on the document while Jacquett had driven the getaway car and was found guilty last year for his role in the murder plot.

A single page from a California Medical Board document was referring to a patient with the initials B.L. was located in the doorway by Shock's body after he was shot, according to the warrant.

It was not yet known whether Shock's care contributed to Lee's death, according to a Sacramento Bee report.

Lee's friend of 30 years, John Fairchild, was also identified in the warrant. It stated that the two had dinner a year before contacting authorities on Sept. 11, 2018.

It was a time when Lee told Fairchild that he blamed Shock for his wife's death and was angry about it.

Lee denied his involvement in Shock's death. However, he said that he was "glad" that Shock was dead.

Investigators had also conducted a search of Lee's residence. During the search of Lee's home, authorities had said that they discovered the other pages of the medical board document, according to a Law and Crime report.

Meanwhile, Salazar expressed his gratitude with the case finally closing. He thanked the Lodi Police Department detectives for their investigative work.

He also cited Chief Sierra Brucia for the officer's "unparalleled leadership."

Salazar also thanked Deputy District Attorney Ted McGarvey for continuing to pursue justice for the victim and the Shock family.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Final Suspect Convicted In 2018 Killing Of Lodi Podiatrist Thomas Shock - from CBS Sacramento