A criminal court jury on Thursday afternoon found former LaFayette Police sergeant Sam Parker guilty of murder.
He was sentenced to life in prison by Judge Jon "Bo" Wood.
Parker also received two concurrent five-year terms for violating his oath of office and giving a false statement.
He was found not guilty of computer invasion of privacy.
The jury from Bartow County deliberated for 23 hours over four days.
Parker was found guilty of the slaying of his wife, Theresa, whose body has never been found. She was last seen March 21, 2007.
The jury as late as at noon on Thursday said it was still deadlocked 8-4 on the murder count. Judge Wood then gave the Allen charge ("dynamite" charge) urging them to reach a verdict by focusing on the facts of the case and not becoming advocates for either side.
Parker, 51, showed no emotion. He was asked by Judge Wood if he wanted to say anything, and he declined.
Judge Wood said he was sentenced to serve "the rest of your natural life" in prison.
The judge told the jurors from Bartow County they could later speak with anyone about the case or they could decline to do so.
He let the jurors leave the courtroom first and get on the bus. He said a deputy would be at their arrival point in Cartersville to see that they were not disturbed.
The jurors had heard two weeks of testimony. Parker did not take the witness stand. His attorneys said he has always maintained his innocence.
Prosecutor Leigh Patterson from Floyd County said after meeting with the Theresa Parker family, "We will never stop looking for Theresa."
She said the former Walker County 911 dispatcher "got that close to getting away." Ms. Parker had gotten an apartment in Fort Oglethorpe and was in the process of moving items from the Parker home on Cordell Avenue in LaFayette when authorities said Parker killed her.
Prosecutors said Parker stashed her body in the back of her Toyota 4Runner, went out to meet a lady friend to establish an alibi, then hid the body the next morning before going fishing with attorney Bill Slack.
Ms. Patterson said, "He knows where the body is."
Concerning deputy Shane Green, who authorities said was close to Ms. Parker, Ms. Patterson said cell phone records showed he did not join her for a trip to Gatlinburg shortly before she disappeared.
Sheriff Steve Wilson said deputy Green was on patrol the night she was killed, and the fact that he used several tanks of gas is not unusual because of the size of the county.
Ms. Patterson said there had been previous successful prosecutions in Georgia of murder cases where there was no body found.
She said the prosecution was aided by the fact it was allowed to display to the jury "similar transactions" and "pattern of conduct" regarding Parker, including the testimony of a former wife who said he put a gun to her head, choked her and handcuffed her to a bed after dragging her by the hair through broken glass.
She praised GBI Agt. James Harris for spotting inconsistencies in Parker's statement soon after Ms. Parker was reported missing.
Sheriff Wilson said Agt. Harris "did a jam-up wonderful job."
He said it was one of the most difficult cases to prosecute he has encountered.
The sheriff said of Parker that "the fact that he did not participate in the early searches was a red flag."
Sheriff Wilson said of Theresa Parker, "She was a very sweet person. It was always a pleasure to talk with her."