Orange County judge prepares for retrial in wife's shooting

An Orange County judge accused of murdering his wife is preparing for a retrial after a previous trial resulted in a mistrial. Jeffrey Ferguson, 74, faces charges for fatally shooting his wife, Sheryl, at their home on August 3, 2023. Ferguson expressed a sense of hopelessness about his future, saying, "Acquitting isn't gonna bring Sheryl back." He feels that his life was intertwined with hers and now seems bleak. During the initial trial, jurors deliberated for nine days but could not reach a unanimous decision. Eleven were in favor of finding him guilty, while one juror disagreed. Now, Ferguson is gearing up to testify again. He maintains his innocence and insists that the shooting was accidental. The couple had plans to retire in Texas, which now feel lost. Facing the reality of a possible plea deal, Ferguson remarked that serving time at his age could be akin to a death sentence. "If that's what God dictates then I'll be joining Sheryl sooner, and that's fine with me," he said. Ferguson's retrial is set to begin on April 7, 2025.