Ex-Georgia officer reported his wife’s death as suicide. A jury found him guilty of murder

EATONTON, Ga. — A former Georgia police officer who reported his wife’s death as a suicide has been found guilty of her murder.

The Putnam County District’s Attorney said a jury convicted Michael Seth Perrault on Friday for the 2020 shooting death of his wife Amanda.

Perrault worked as a patrolman with the Eatonton Police Department at the time of her murder.

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Perrault was found guilty on charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault under the Georgia Family Violence Act and simple battery under the Georgia Family Violence Act.

The jury took less than three hours to reach a verdict.

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On Feb. 3, 2020, Amanda Perrault was shot to death in the couple’s bedroom at their Lake Oconee home.

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills told Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne that Perrault reported his wife’s death as a suicide.

However, Sills said his story didn’t add up and investigators obtained enough evidence to charge the former Eatonton officer with murder.

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Perrault was arrested on a domestic violence charge days before his wife’s murder, court records show. Amanda Perrault told police that her husband hit her in the face and pushed her in front of their daughter.

After the conviction was read Friday, a judge sentenced Perrault to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

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